A two-vehicle crash in the rural Whiteside County resulted in the death of an elderly woman. The fatal crash occurred on the evening of Sunday, September 6. The deceased was identified as Joyce M. Kaecker, 76, of Erie as per the latest accident reports.
In the details shared by the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office, the incident time is reported as 6:45 p.m. It involved a head-on collision between two vehicles in the rural Erie at Albany Road. One of the vehicles was being driven by Kaecker. The driver of the other vehicle was identified as Nathan D. Bearsley, 35, also of Erie.
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Bearsley was traveling southbound on the Albany Road when he apparently crossed the center line. This brought his vehicle directly into the path of an oncoming vehicle which Kaecker was driving. The head-on collision resulted in critical injuries to Joyce M. Kaecker.
Once the first responders and local authorities reached the accident site, Kaecker was pronounced dead by the Whiteside County Coroner. The department and agencies that assisted with the incident included Albany firefighters, Erie EMS, Erie Police, Illinois State Police and Erie firefighters.
Bearsley also sustained serious injuries in the collision, although the exact nature and extent of his injuries is unknown. He was airlifted to a medical facility in Iowa City for urgent treatment.
Investigations into the incident are still ongoing, led by the Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office. Preliminary investigations show that Bearsley’s negligence caused the fatal crash. He has been cited for improper lane usage. Subsequent accident reports may show if any other charges are brought against him.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch 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. Safety Watch’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.