Early Wednesday morning, a quiet stretch of Illinois Route 161 in Belleville turned into an active investigation scene after a 40-year-old man was found dead along the roadside near Sullivan Drive. Officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a report of an unconscious person, and the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Detectives and the department’s crime-scene unit processed the area and spoke with witnesses, while the St. Clair County Coroner’s Office also responded to assist.
Police Detail Early-Morning Response
In a Facebook post, the Belleville Police Department said officers were dispatched at approximately 5:22 a.m. for a report of an unconscious man and found a 40-year-old male on the side of the roadway. According to the post, officers and EMS determined the man was deceased at the scene. Detectives are conducting interviews while the crime-scene unit gathers evidence, and the department noted that autopsy and toxicology results are pending and the investigation remains active, according to the Belleville Police Department.
Coroner’s Office Role At The Scene…