Victims identified in fatal crash near Momence

A couple from Shelby, Ind., was identified as the victims of the fatal construction zone crash Thursday morning that closed Illinois Route 1/17, southwest of Momence.

The driver, Laura J. Basham, 64, and the passenger, Barry N. Basham, 61, were in a minivan that was crushed and caught fire when a semitruck driven by Krzystof Sulkowski, 37, of Chicago, didn't slow down in time and crashed into the van, according to an Illinois State Police report.

The couple was westbound at 8:25 a.m., when traffic ahead of them was stopped for construction in a lightly populated area at 9500 E. Road Illinois Route 1/17. A construction crew had just begun a project to add rumble strips to the edge of the roadway.

The Bashams were stopped behind another semi, driven by Troy Farney, 42, of Forrest, when Sulkowski's semi crashed into their 2012 Dodge Journey, which got sandwiched between the two trucks.

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Police: 2 dead in Pontiac motel were victims of homicide

PONTIAC — Authorities discovered the bodies of a mother and son Tuesday in a Pontiac motel, both victims of homicide.

Family members contacted by the Daily Leader in Pontiac said the mother and son — Tyler R. Friant, 22, of Pontiac — were shot to death at their residence in the Palamar Motel, located in the 200 block of South Ladd Street, and another son was gravely injured.

The injured person was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, but was later discharged, according to a nursing supervisor. He apparently was taken to a hospital in Springfield. A nursing supervisor at St. John’s Hospital said she could give out any information on the person or his condition.

Police were called to the Palamar shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday to conduct a wellness check on a resident, the chief said.

"One of the residents’ co-workers or boss was concerned" when that person did not show up for work Tuesday and asked police to conduct the check, Pontiac police Chief James Woolford said.

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Police: 2 dead in Pontiac motel were victims of homicide

PONTIAC — Authorities discovered the bodies of a mother and son Tuesday in a Pontiac motel, both victims of homicide.

Family members contacted by the Daily Leader in Pontiac said the mother and son — Tyler R. Friant, 22, of Pontiac — were shot to death at their residence in the Palamar Motel, located in the 200 block of South Ladd Street, and another son was gravely injured.

The injured person was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria, but was later discharged, according to a nursing supervisor. He apparently was taken to a hospital in Springfield. A nursing supervisor at St. John’s Hospital said she could give out any information on the person or his condition.

Police were called to the Palamar shortly before 11 a.m. Tuesday to conduct a wellness check on a resident, the chief said.

"One of the residents’ co-workers or boss was concerned" when that person did not show up for work Tuesday and asked police to conduct the check, Pontiac police Chief James Woolford said.

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