Central Illinois school district faces ‘unthinkable loss’ after fatal crash

(WEEK) - The teenager who died in a crash between a car and a semi-trailer in eastern McLean County on Wednesday was a junior at Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School.

Authorities said the semi driver was traveling northbound on the LeRoy-Lexington Blacktop, failed to stop at a stop sign and crashed into a car driven by Colin Bane of Gibson City.

Bane, the only occupant of the car, was traveling westbound on Illinois Route 9. Bane, who was 17, was pronounced dead at the scene. The McLean County Coroner’s Office said Friday that Bane suffered “multiple blunt” injuries.

“The GCMS community has experienced an unthinkable loss,” the school district said on its Facebook page.

The district posted a picture of Bane and his soccer teammates, taken by photographer Ryan Minion.

“The entire GCMS community is mourning the loss of one of our kids,” the district said of the teenager’s death.

“Please keep the Bane family, our students, staff, and community in your thoughts during these trying times,” district said.

Meantime, the coroner’s office and Illinois State Police are continuing to investigate the crash.

Police ticketed the driver of the semi for failing to obey a stop sign. He’s identified as Day-Quan R. Love, 28, from Killeen, Texas. Police said Love was not injured.

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