SALEM, IL — A 20-year-old Salem man died Tuesday night after a motorcycle and SUV collided at Illinois Route 37 and Tonti Road north of Salem, according to Marion County Coroner Claude Howell.
Howell identified the man as Anthony Hanshew and said he was pronounced dead at the scene. The coroner said the preliminary cause of death will be blunt force trauma to the head.
The crash happened at a rural intersection that includes a stop sign for Tonti Road traffic. Illinois State Police are handling the investigation.
Investigators say the motorcycle was traveling north on Route 37
Initial information from the crash indicates Hanshew was riding northbound on Route 37 when the motorcycle collided with an SUV headed eastbound on Tonti Road. The collision point was just north of Salem.
Officials said the three people in the SUV were taken by United Medical Response to Salem Township Hospital for treatment of what appeared to be minor injuries. State Police have not released their names.
The details released so far describe a two-vehicle wreck at an intersection where cross-traffic on Tonti Road must stop before entering Route 37.
Impact threw Hanshew into a nearby field
Howell said the force of the crash threw Hanshew into a nearby field after the impact. He also said the front passenger-side tire on the SUV was knocked off.
Those details point to a violent collision that scattered debris across the scene and complicated the response for first responders.
Coroner’s findings on the cause of death will be part of the official record as investigators continue sorting out how the crash unfolded.
Fire crews helped stabilize the scene before the investigation began
The Salem Fire Protection District assisted the victims at the scene. Kinmundy-Alma firefighters also provided lighting so responders could work after dark.
The crash was reported at 8:27 Tuesday night, and both Route 37 and Tonti Road were shut down while crews cleared the wreckage and an Illinois State Police accident reconstructionist examined the area.
Those road closures lasted until after 1 a.m. Wednesday, according to the report provided by officials.
Road closures stretched past midnight for cleanup and reconstruction
The overnight closure shows how long a serious crash investigation can affect traffic in a small community. Drivers heading through the Salem area were kept off both roads until cleanup and reconstruction work were complete.
Accident reconstructionists typically document vehicle positions, roadway marks and scene evidence before traffic resumes. In this case, the investigation continued well after the initial emergency response.
Officials have not said whether charges or citations are expected.
Marion County officials have released only limited information so far
So far, authorities have confirmed the victim’s name, the preliminary cause of death, the crash location and the treatment of the SUV occupants. They have not released the identities of the people in the SUV.
The crash remains under review by Illinois State Police and the Marion County Coroner’s office. More details may come as the reconstruction process is completed and investigators compare witness accounts with physical evidence.
For now, the known facts point to a deadly intersection crash that left one young Salem man dead and three other people injured enough to require hospital care.
Local news that matters, from Dulaney Griffin.
