A Tuesday morning motorcycle ride ended in tragedy for a 70-year-old Kansas man, who died after his bike crossed the center line and collided with a tractor-trailer on Illinois Route 4 just south of Interstate 70 near Marine. He was taken to a St. Louis hospital, where he was later pronounced dead, as Illinois State Police continued to investigate the crash.
State police: Motorcycle crossed the center line into a semi
Illinois State Police said the collision happened around 9:10 a.m., when the northbound motorcycle moved into the path of a semitrailer, temporarily shutting both lanes of Route 4 while troopers worked the scene, according to First Alert 4. Troopers responded to the area just south of the I-70 interchange outside Marine and began a crash reconstruction investigation.
Victim identified by medical examiner
The St. Louis Medical Examiner identified the rider as John Crute, 70, of Overland, Kansas; the Belleville News‑Democrat reports he was taken from the scene to a St. Louis hospital and pronounced dead. Authorities said the investigation remains active as troopers collect evidence and interview potential witnesses…