A vehicle crashed after reportedly speeding away from an officer who was responding to a call about the car.
Kewanee Police received a report that a red 4-door Chevy Cavalier that was off the road and had possibly been involved in a wreck in Kewanee, Illinois’ Baker Park. The report came in shortly before 5 p.m. Thursday, November 5, 2014.
According to the Henry County Sheriff’s Office a Kewanee Police Officer drove to the park and spotted a vehicle matching the description; it was parked on the north side of the roadway.
“As the officer drove next to the vehicle, the reported vehicle drove past the officer and exited the park turning westbound on Rt. 81 (W. 6th St.),” said a statement from Lt. Kerry Loncka with the Henry County Sheriff’s Office.
The vehicle sped up and headed westbound on Rt. 81 to the Kewanee City limits before losing control, according to the statement. The vehicle traveled through the eastbound lane, went off the south side of the roadway and hit a tree.
The sheriff’s office said 19-year-old Rashawn Clark of Peoria was driving the vehicle with 14-year-old Chalyssa Yokley of Kewanee in the passenger seat. Both were taken to a Kewanee hospital before being airlifted to another.
Chalyssa Yokley was later pronounced dead at that hospital.
The Kewanee Police Department and the Henry County Sheriff’s Office are continuing to investigate the incident.
If you saw the vehicle in the park or driving from the park, you are asked to call the Kewanee Police Department at 309-852-2611 or the Henry County Investigation Divisions at 309-937-3906.
