WHAT:                      Two Unit Fatal Traffic Crash

 

WHERE:                   Illinois Route 17 at Illinois Route 1 (west junction), Kankakee County

 

WHEN:                      March 8, 2022 at approximately 5:55 p.m.

 

VEHICLE:                Unit 1 – 2005 Gray Buick

 

                                    Unit 2 – 2021 Gray Chevrolet Colorado

 

DRIVERS:                 Unit 1 – Javon R. Frazier, 24-year-old male from Kankakee, IL – Transported to a local hospital with injuries.

 

                                    Unit 2 – Joseph Sutfin, 77-year-old male from Watseka, IL – Transported to a local hospital with injuries.

 

PASSENGERS:         Unit 1 – Prince D. Trowell, 27-year-old male from Kankakee, IL – Deceased

 

                                    Unit 2 – Karen K. Sutfin, 72-year-old female from Watseka, IL – Deceased

 

PRELIMINARY:        Preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Unit 2 (westbound) was attempting to turn left, on a green arrow, onto Illinois Route 1.  Unit 1 (eastbound) was traveling at a high rate of speed on Illinois Route 17, failed to stop at the stop light, and struck Unit 2.  The passenger of Unit 1 and Unit 2 were pronounced deceased on scene.  Traffic was rerouted for approximately 5 hours due to the crash investigation. 

 

CHARGES:               The driver of Unit 1 was issued citations for Driving Under the Influence of Alcohol, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, Failure to Yield at Stop Intersection, and Driver Required to Wear Seat Belt.