Triple Fatalities Confirmed in I-74 Head-On Collision
A devastating two-vehicle crash on Interstate 74 near Gilson, Illinois, has claimed the lives of three individuals. The Knox County Coroner’s Office has identified the victims as Todd A. Graves, 61, of Springfield, Ohio, and Steven H. Youngquist, 70, and Christine Youngquist, 72, of Galesburg.
According to the Illinois State Police, the tragic incident occurred on January 30 at approximately 3:08 a.m. Graves, driving a gray 2012 Cadillac sedan, was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes of I-74 when he collided head-on with a gray 2019 Toyota SUV driven by Steven Youngquist. Both Graves and Steven Youngquist were pronounced dead at the scene.
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Christine Youngquist, a passenger in the SUV, suffered life-threatening injuries and was transported to a regional hospital, where she passed away at 4:55 p.m. on the same day.
Autopsies conducted by Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood confirmed that all three victims died from multiple blunt force injuries sustained in the crash. Toxicology reports are pending to determine if any contributing factors, such as alcohol or drugs, played a role in the incident.
The Illinois State Police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash, focusing on what led to Graves driving in the wrong direction on the highway. Authorities are working diligently to gather more information, and further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.
