A two-vehicle accident at the intersection of US Highway 50 and Ironwood Road in Clay County claimed the life of a Cisne Middle School student. According to Clay County Coroner Bryce C. Henry, 15-year-old Owen W. Bailey of Cisne was pronounced dead at Clay County Hospital following the crash, which occurred at approximately 6:43pm Sunday night.
The accident involved a semi-truck and a side-by-side utility vehicle. Authorities report that Bailey was traveling westbound on the shoulder of US Highway 50 and attempting to make a left turn onto Ironwood Road when, for unknown reasons, he pulled out in front of an eastbound semi. The semi struck the side-by-side, resulting in fatal injuries to Bailey.
Emergency units from the Xenia Fire Protection District, Clay County Ambulance Service, Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Illinois State Police, Flora ESDA, and Illinois Department of Transportation responded to the scene. Illinois State Police Troop 9 conducted an accident reconstruction, with US 50 closed for most of the night and reopening at approximately 12:15 a.m.
Cisne Middle School has confirmed that grief counselors are available to support students and staff following the loss of Owen Bailey, an 8th grader at the school.
The accident remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police and the Clay County Coroner’s Office