Effingham teen killed after car crashes into river

EFFINGHAM COUNTY, Ill. (WAND) - A 16-year-old Effingham boy died after his vehicle went off a bridge and into the river Monday night.

At 4:29 p.m., the Illinois State Police and Effingham County Sheriff's Department responded to a single vehicle crash on 875th Road, about one mile east of US RT. 45 (State Police Black-top).

They found a vehicle upside down in the river. The Effingham County Dive Team responded and removed the driver from the vehicle.

The driver was identified as John Breer, age 16, of Effingham. Breer passed away at 6:05 pm at HSHS St. Anthony Hospital in Effingham. The Effingham County Coroner’s Office was contacted and responded to the hospital.

Troopers said a preliminary investigation revealed that a vehicle driven by Breer was eastbound and for some unknown reason ran off the road on the south side and veered over to the west bound lane, struck the bridge railing and then overturned in the river. The Illinois State Police Traffic Reconstruction Unit arrived to process the scene.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18 at 10:30 am at the McLean County Coroner’s Office in Bloomington to determine the official cause of death.