2 SIU students die after crash in Carbondale

CARBONDALE, Ill. (KBSI) – Two Southern Illinois University students died in a crash Monday morning in Carbondale.

Wolfgang W. Gustaveson, 19, of Park Ridge and Francis M. Martinez, 18, of Des Plaines died in the traffic crash, according to the Carbondale Police Department. They were both attending Southern Illinois University at Carbondale and living on campus.

Carbondale police officers responded to the 1500 block of North Illinois Avenue for a traffic crash on December 4 at 7:45 a.m.

The crash happened in the 1500 block of North Illinois (Rte. 51). The road is shut down between Dillinger and Willow, according to the Carbondale Police Department.

The initial information provided was that a bus was involved, but an investigation revealed that a school bus was not impacted during the crash. No one on the bus was injured.

However, two trucks collided in a head on crash near the bus.

The lone occupant of the vehicle that was southbound suffered serious injuries. He was taken to Memorial Hospital of Carbondale by the Jackson County Ambulance Service.

The two people in the northbound vehicle were found to be dead as a result of the crash.

Multiple agencies, including the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office, De Soto Police Department, Carbondale Fire Department, Carbondale Public Works Department and the Illinois State Police assisted in the investigation.

North Illinois Avenue is open again for all traffic.