Two teens die in a single-vehicle crash in Douglas County
ARCOLA -- Two teens died in a single-vehicle crash west of Arcola on Sunday morning.
According to a Douglas County sheriff's report, Richard A. Helmuth, 18, of Arthur was driving a green 1998 Chevrolet Blazer west on County Road 200 N near 675 E about 2.5 miles west of Arcola when he lost control of the vehicle at 2:36 a.m. Sunday, causing it to overturn.
Mr. Helmuth and a passenger, Chester A. Detweiler, 17, of Arthur, were both thrown from the vehicle, police said.
Douglas County Coroner Joe Victor said he pronounced both of them dead at the scene at 3:15 a.m.
Two out of three juvenile passengers who were also in the vehicle were not injured, and a third juvenile passenger was taken to Sarah Bush Health Center near Mattoon for treatment for a non-life-threatening injury, according to the sheriff's report.
Victor said that blood and urine samples were drawn from Mr. Helmuth and Mr. Detweiler at funeral homes in Arcola and Sullivan. Those samples were taken to the state crime lab in Springfield to test for toxicology.
No autopsies are scheduled, Victor said.
The crash continues to be investigated by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office and the Douglas County Coroner's Office, with the state police assisting with reconstruction of the crash scene.
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