Danville man dies after wreck during police chase
DANVILLE -- Champaign County Coroner Duane Northrup said a Danville man died in a vehicle collision in Vermilion County on late Saturday afternoon.
Northrup said Freddy Jonathan Bates, 26, of Danville, was pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana at 6:28 p.m. Saturday.
According to a state police report, Mr. Bates was being pursued by Potomac police as he was driving a 1978 maroon two-door Oldsmobile south on Illinois 1 at 5:10 p.m. Saturday.
Police said Bates drove from the southbound lane into the northbound lane, hitting a 1994 maroon two-door Pontiac Firebird driven by John E. Kessler, 46, of Bismarck and a 2006 blue four-door Chevrolet Malibu driven by Kevin J. McConnell, 38, of Milford, at Bismarck Road.
Kessler was taken by AirLife helicopter to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, where he was listed in critical condition on Sunday.
Mr. Bates was taken by another AirLife helicopter to Carle, where he was pronounced dead.
Anne E. Kessler, 49, of Bismarck, a passenger in Kessler's vehicle, was taken by ambulance to Provena United Samaritans Medical Center in Danville, where she was treated and released.
The report said McConnell was not injured.
The crash is under investigation by the Champaign County coroner's office and the state police.
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