Iuka, Ill – State Police have released a preliminary report on a fatal SUV pedestrian accident on U.S. 50 three miles east of Iuka early Tuesday night.
State Police say an eastbound SUV driven by 59-year-old Marla Meyer of Iuka struck 8-year-old Matthew Lindsey who had previously entered the roadway near his home. Lindsey sustained serious injuries from the crash and was later pronounced dead at Salem Township Hospital. He was the oldest child of Shawn Lindsey and Laura Carpenter and was in the second grade at Iuka Grade School.
Meyer was transported to the Clay County Hospital in Flora for treatment.
Marion County Coroner Troy Cannon says Matthew Lindsey, who was profoundly autistic, had gone outside without his parents’ knowledge and it was unclear what the boy was doing in the roadway when he was struck. Cannon adds it was not the nature of the boy to go outside along.
Matthew was found lying in the roadside ditch by first responders from the Iuka Fire Department, who initiated CPR. Marion County Sheriff’s Deputies later joined the effort. EMS personnel continued resuscitation efforts enroute to Salem Township Hospital.
Cannon says Matthew died instantly from blunt force trauma to the head and torso.
The incident remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction unit.
Read more at http://www.wjbdradio.com/local-news/2016/10/26/8yearold-rural-iuka-boy-killed-when-struck-by-car-in-front-of-his-home