Kewanee, IL – The Henry County Coroner’s Office has confirmed the identity of the man killed in Tuesday night’s crash at the East Street viaduct in Kewanee as 25-year-old Alex Dillender, a local resident.
The tragic accident, announced by Coroner Melissa Watkins on Thursday, has shaken the community, leaving family, friends, and neighbors mourning the sudden loss of a young life.
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Timeline of Events
According to the Kewanee Police Department, the chain of events began around 8:45 p.m. on September 30, when officers were called for a welfare check on a male driver. Police located the vehicle in the 800 block of North East Street and attempted a traffic stop.
The driver, later identified as Dillender, failed to stop, prompting a brief pursuit eastbound on Kentville Road. The chase lasted less than a minute before officers terminated it for safety reasons.
Roughly an hour later, at 9:44 p.m., officers spotted the same vehicle again and initiated another traffic stop. Dillender allegedly fled at a high rate of speed, leading officers on a two-and-a-half-minute pursuit before police lost sight of the vehicle and ended the chase.
Just minutes later, at 9:46 p.m., dispatchers received reports of a crash at the East Street viaduct. Responders rushed to the scene, but Dillender was pronounced dead at the location.
Ongoing Investigation
Coroner Watkins, who was out of town at the time of the accident, said no additional details on the cause of the crash have yet been released. Police continue to investigate the circumstances, including what may have caused Dillender to lose control of his vehicle.
Community in Mourning
The loss of Alex Dillender has deeply affected the Kewanee community. Friends describe him as a young man with potential and a bright future, making his death especially difficult to process. Residents say the tragedy underscores the dangers of high-speed driving and the risks it poses not only to drivers but to the entire community.
The Kewanee Police Department has asked anyone with information about the crash or the moments leading up to it to come forward. Updates are expected as the investigation moves forward.
For now, Kewanee remembers Alex Dillender with grief and sorrow, as neighbors rally around his loved ones during this painful time.