5 Dead After Van With Md. Tags Crashes, Overturns In Illinois
ST. LOUIS (AP) -- Illinois State Police are continuing their investigation of why a van carrying 11 men veered off a southern Illinois freeway and repeatedly overturned, killing five occupants and hospitalizing the other six.
Investigators say the occupants of the 15-passenger van with Maryland license plates were heading home from a California religious event.
The dead have been identified as 54 year old Emerson Baldwin, 53 year old Andrew Canada, 42 year old Antonie Mitchell, 52 year old Mark William and 29 year old Thomas Coleman.
It's not immediate clear what caused the van to leave the highway. Police say the conditions at the time were dry and clear.
The driver survived.
Messages left Tuesday with Fayette County Coroner Bruce Bowen and the state police's district spokesman weren't immediately returned.
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