A teen driver was killed Wednesday afternoon in a head-on wreck on Illinois 4 near Girard, according to authorities.

Colby T. Rheude, 18, of Virden, died at the scene of the wreck, which was reported just after 2 p.m. Wednesday north of Girard, according to the Illinois State Police. Car accident reports state one other person suffered minor injuries as a result of the crash.

Authorities said Rheude was driving south on Illinois 4 near Finney Road at about 2 p.m. Wednesday when he lost control of his vehicle and crossed the highway’s centerline. Rheude’s pickup truck then crashed head-on into a northbound semi-tractor trailer driven by Walter F. Smith, 51, of Peoria, according to car accident reports.

Investigators said Rheude’s truck caught fire and crashed into a ditch on the side of the road. Smith’s semi also came to rest in a ditch, according to car accident reports.

Emergency medical personnel were called to the scene, but Rheude was pronounced dead by the Macoupin County Coroner’s Office. Smith was taken to an area hospital for treatment of injuries that aren’t thought to be life-threatening.

Authorities have not said what they believe caused Rheude to lose control of his vehicle. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Friends and family members of Rheude’s held a candlelight vigil Thursday night. Mourners gathered at the Virden Fire Deparment headquarters and walked to the family home, according to local media reports.

Disclaimer: The Accident News article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.

The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Accident News’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.

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