Des Plaines, Park Ridge SIU Students Killed In Crash: Police

DES PLAINES, IL — An 18-year-old Des Plaines native and a 19-year-old Park Ridge man were killed on Monday when the truck they were traveling at in Carbondale collided head-on with another truck near a school bus originally believed to be involved in the crash, police said.

Francis M. Martinez of Des Plaines and Wolfgang W. Gustaveson of Park Ridge were killed in the crash, which took place just after 7:30 a.m. on Monday, police said. Both were students at Southern Illinois University and were living on campus, police said.

The crash took place in the 1500 block of North Illinois Avenue in Carbondale, where police said that two trucks collided head-on near the school bus. Initial reports indicated that the bus was involved in the crash, but police said that no one was on the bus at the time and that the bus was not affected.

The driver of the other truck was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries. Martinez and Gustaveson were killed in the crash and pronounced dead at the scene.

“The City of Carbondale is extremely sorry for the loss of these young men, and extends our deepest sympathy to their families and loved ones,” city officials said.

The crash remains under investigation and anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the City of Carbondale Police Department at (618) 549-2121. Anyone with information may also call the Carbondale/SIU Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (618) 549-COPS (2677) or the Murphysboro/Jackson County anonymous tip line at (618) 687-COPS (2677).