Atkinson man dies in crash

By Dustin Lemmon | Monday, June 18, 2007

TODAY: (Updated 12:12 p.m.) An Atkinson, Ill., man was killed in an accident on Interstate 80 early today after he swerved to avoid hitting a deer and struck a semi-tractor.

The Henry County Coroner’s Office said Russell J. VanAntwerp, age unavailable, died after the accident at 1:29 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of I-80 near mile marker 32.5 near Annawan. Both vehicles were traveling eastbound.

A passenger in VanAntwerp’s vehicle and the semi-tractor driver were treated for their injuries and released from local hospitals.

Illinois State Police are still investigating the incident. A coroner’s inquest hearing is pending.

Dustin Lemmon can be contacted at (563) 383-2493 or dlemmon@qctimes.com.