A 15-year-old Mendota girl has been identified as the victim of a single-vehicle rollover just southwest of Troy Grove, according to the LaSalle County coroner. Authorities say the car left the roadway, struck a utility pole and rolled into an adjacent farm field, and the rear-seat passenger later died from her injuries. Local investigators say forensic testing is still underway as they work to piece together exactly what happened.
Coroner's preliminary findings
In a Monday news release, the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office said the crash happened Friday afternoon at North 35th and Route 251 in Dimmick Township and involved an automobile that rolled over. The office identified the decedent as a 15-year-old girl from Mendota and reported that a forensic autopsy performed Sunday preliminarily determined she died of fatal injuries sustained in the crash. Toxicology and further testing remain pending, according to the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office.
Investigation underway
The LaSalle County Coroner’s Office said it is working with the Peru Police Department and the Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit to determine how the vehicle left the roadway and rolled. As reported by WSPYnews, officials have not released details about the driver or any other occupants while the probe continues.
Scene details
The county release states the vehicle struck a utility pole and came to rest in a farm field north of Troy Grove in rural Dimmick Township. The coroner’s office said it will provide additional information when forensic and toxicology results are complete and investigators finish interviews, according to the LaSalle County Coroner’s Office.
Next steps
Authorities say they will release further findings after lab work and accident reconstruction are finished. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact the Peru Police Department, officials said.
