Both drivers died in a fiery head on collision on U.S. 51 two miles south of Vandalia early Sunday morning.
Fayette County Coroner Bruce Bowen identifies one of the victims as 74-year-old Robert Norris of Vernon. The second victim was burned beyond recognition. Dental records will be used during an autopsy scheduled for Monday to try and confirm the victim's identity. A passenger in the Norris vehicle, Shawn Norris, was airlifted to a St. Louis Hospital.
Bowen says Robert Norris was traveling southbound on U.S. 51 near Fayette County Road 1150N when a northbound vehicle crossed into his lane. The two collided head on. The northbound vehicle then burst into flames. The Vandalia Fire Department responded to the scene, extinguished the fire, and extricated the victims. Robert Norris and the unidentified person were pronounced dead on the scene by Bowen at 4:06 Sunday morning.
The crash occurred around 3:30 Sunday morning. It remains under investigation by the Fayette County Coroner and Illinois State Police, who have assigned an accident reconstructionist to the case. - http://goo.gl/7bya6
