Police said the driver told them he fell asleep at the wheel when he the van he was driving rolled several times, killing a teen and injuring several others.
The crash was reported at about 1 p.m. Monday, July 15, 2013 on Interstate 88 at mile marker 29 east of Lyndon, Illinois.
Police said eight people from the Salt Lake City, Utah-based band ‘Dark Seas’ were riding in a van eastbound on I-88 when their driver, 23-year-old Colton Elliot, lost control of the van. As it went off the road and into the median Elliot overcorrected, causing the van to slide out of control. The van rolled several times.
Colton Ericksen, 19, was ejected from the van. Ericksen was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Police said Ericksen was not wearing a seat belt.
Five other passengers, ranging in age between 18 and 28 years old, were also hurt in the crash. All of the injured people were taken by ambulance to a hospital in Sterling.
One person escaped the crash without injuries.
Police said Elliot told them he fell asleep at the wheel.
Elliot was cited for improper driving on the shoulder. Police said other charges were pending.
The band’s Facebook page showed they performed in Sioux City, Iowa on Sunday, July 14 and were on their way to a show in Chicago the date of the crash.