A two-vehicle crash along Illinois route one in Edgar County early today (Wednesday, July 19, 2023) has claimed the life of a Ridge Farm teenager.
Edgar County Coroner Scott Barrett pronounced 17-year-old Andrew L. Riza dead at the scene. The Coroner says the crash occurred shortly before 8:30 Wednesday morning along route one, north of 1700th road (Horace-Brocton Road).
According to a news release from the Edgar County Coroner’s Office, evidence and information provided by witnesses show a truck driven by Riza was traveling northbound on route one. The truck crossed the center line and collided with a southbound truck driven by Tony Cesinger of Terre Haute, Indiana. It was a work truck owned by Decatur and Eastern Illinois Railroad.
Cesinger suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene. The truck driven by Riza left the road and came to a rest in a ditch along the highway.
The crash remains under investigation by Illinois State Police, the Edgar County Sheriff’s Department and Edgar County Coroner.
Edgar County Sheriff’s Deputies, Chrisman Police, Neal EMS, and the Chrisman and Paris Fire Departments were all on the scene within minutes of the call, but it was determined that Riza had died in the crash.
