On Friday, September 29, 2023 at approximately 8:40 pm the Effingham County Sheriff’s Department and the Teutopolis Fire Department were notified of a motor vehicle crash on US Rt. 40 just east of Teutopolis, Illinois. Upon arrival it was determined immediately the crash site was unsafe due to a ruptured tanker leaking anhydrous ammonia.
The scene was secured and the residents of Teutopolis were evacuated. Several vehicles were abandoned at the scene as they fled the crash site. Traffic on I-70 was shut down due to a crash in the construction zone which resulted in these drivers being re-routed onto Rt. 40.
Preliminary investigation indicates five individuals died from exposure to anhydrous ammonia at the crash site. These individuals were:
• Kenneth Bryan, age 34 from Teutopolis, Illinois and his two children
• Rosie Bryan, age 7 from Beecher City, Illinois
• Walker Bryan, age 10 from Beecher City, Illinois
• Danny J. Smith, age 67 from New Haven, Missouri
• Vasile Cricovan, age 31 from Twinsburg, Ohio
Autopsies for the five deceased are scheduled for 7 a.m. on Oct. 2, 2023 at the Champaign County Regional Autopsy Center in Urbana, Illinois.
Additionally, five individuals were airlifted from the scene to area hospitals due to exposure to the anhydrous ammonia at the crash site. These individuals were:
• Terrie Tudor, age 61 from Union, Missouri
• John Costello, age 19 from Olathe, Kansas
• Sara Tague, age 18 from Lake Elmo, Minnesota
• Anja Dangelmaier, age 18 from Dallas, Texas
• Jacob Bloemker, age 24 of Brownstown, Illinois
Two individuals were admitted to St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham, Illinois due to exposure at the scene.
• Weston Hemmerling, age 18 of Kansas City, Kansas
• Charlie Whitt, age 66 from Green Castle, Indiana
As of this morning we have learned that several individuals were being treated at HSHS St. Anthony Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital in Vincennes, Indiana for anhydrous ammonia exposure due to traveling through the scene of the crash site.
Approximately 100 first responders assisted during the incident. The investigation is continuing by the Effingham County Coroner’s Office, Illinois State Police, ISP Traffic Crash Reconstruction, NTSB, IEMA and the Illinois EPA.