I-80 Fatal: Teen Dies, 5 Hospitalized After Crash Near Morris

MORRIS, IL — An 18-year-old man died Friday night during a rollover crash along Interstate 80 that involved four vehicles and sent five people to area hospitals. The fatality victim, Carsen Smith, was from Grand Ridge, a small village near Ottawa in LaSalle County.

According to Grundy County Coroner John Callahan, two vehicles were westbound along I-80 around 8 p.m. when one was passing the other. The vehicles contacted each other, pushing both into the median and continuing into the eastbound lanes of I-80.

Both vehicles collided with cars heading eastbound along I-80, authorities said.

Smith was driving one of the eastbound vehicles, the coroner said. Smith's 2003 Silver Ford Excursion rolled over, came to a rest in the south ditch and caught fire.

"Due to the damage of the vehicle, Mr. Smith was pinned in the vehicle as it caught fire," the coroner announced.

The teen from Grand Ridge was pronounced dead at the scene shortly before midnight.

Smith's 16-year-old male passenger was ejected from the 2003 Silver Ford Excursion, the coroner said.

The Illinois State Police reported the 16-year-old boy was taken to a local hospital and his injuries were not life-threatening.

A total of five people were taken by ambulance to area hospitals, and none of their injuries were considered life-threatening, the Illinois State Police announced.

Morris Fire and EMS along with several other EMS units assisted at the scene, Callahan noted.