On Saturday, August 15th, the Illinois State Police said that one teenager died while another survived an auto-bicycle collision on U.S. Route 136 outside Gifford, Illinois. The Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup identified the fatal victim as 18-year-old Matthew J. Correll, of Gifford.

The coroner said that the teenager died at the scene, and his companion, a 15-year-old survived with non-life-threatening injuries. Medics took the teen to an area hospital for treatment.

The accident report showed that the occurrence happened at about 9:18 p.m. near 2400 East Road, about a mile east of Gifford. The police said that the surviving teen rode a mountain bike while Correll operated a roadster bicycle.

The two traveled west in the center of the westbound lane when a 2004 Chrysler Crossfire crashed into them from behind. The driver of the vehicle, 53-year-old Shawn H. Allen of St. Joseph, was unscathed.

The ISP did not cite the driver for the occurrence, but that might change pending the conclusion of their investigation. There is no additional information.  

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Bicycle riding is a fun, healthy, and great way to be independent. The agency admonishes that a bike is not a toy, but a vehicle; thus, riders must ensure it is ready to ride before operating it.

Bicyclists should inspect their bikes, make sure all parts are secure before riding it, wear a properly fitted bicycle helmet, and adjust it to fit the body. There should be at least 1 to 2 inches between the rider and the top tube for road bikes, and 3 to 4 inches for mountain bicycles.

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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