Man in wheelchair hit by SUV eastbound on 13

Man in wheelchair hit by SUV eastbound on 13

By Tara Kulash

A John A. Logan student was hit and killed by a car crossing the intersection of Illinois Route 13 in front of University Mall.

Carbondale police said they are investigating the accident and no charges have been filed. Authorities said they believe the light was green during the accident.

Some witnesses said the light was green as well.

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Witnesses Samantha Finger, a Coello resident, and Ryan Turner, a Zeigler resident, said they saw the accident happen around 6:10 p.m.

They said they were traveling west on 13 when the stoplight turned red and all cars stopped but one — but Carbondale police later said other witnesses had reason to believe the light had been green at the time of the accident. As Corey Gowin, a sophomore at John A. Logan studying social work, started to cross the street in his wheelchair, Turner said an SUV driving east hit Gowin.

“The car went about five feet in the air. Not the wheelchair, the car,” Turner said.

The driver Stephen Pyle, age 55 of Herrin, declined comment.

Gowin was transported to the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale where he was pronounced dead at 6:44 p.m., according to the police report.

Traffic was shut down on eastbound Illinois 13 at the time of the accident as police investigated the area.

No citations have been issued and the investigation into the incident is continuing, according to the police report.

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The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office is assisting in the investigation.

This report will be updated as more information is received.

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