URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) – In the early hours of Sunday, January 19, 2025, a fatal collision occurred at the intersection of University Avenue and Coler Avenue in Urbana, leaving one dead and others injured. Urbana Police responded to the crash at approximately 1:55 AM.
Preliminary investigations revealed that a Honda Civic, stopped at a red light on University Avenue, was struck from behind by a Mitsubishi SUV traveling at high speed. The impact caused significant damage to both vehicles.
The Civic carried five occupants, all of whom were taken to the hospital. Two passengers were released with minor injuries, while two remain hospitalized, one in critical condition. Tragically, a 20-year-old woman who was a passenger in the Civic succumbed to her injuries. Her identity is being withheld pending family notification by the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The driver of the SUV fled the scene on foot, heading southbound on Coler Avenue, and has yet to be apprehended. Detectives and accident reconstruction specialists from the Urbana Police Department (UPD) have launched a thorough investigation.
UPD urges anyone with information about the crash or the SUV driver’s whereabouts to come forward. Tips can be submitted by calling 217-384-2320. For those wishing to remain anonymous, Crime Stoppers offers multiple options to report information anonymously via phone at 217-373-TIPS (8477), online at 373tips.com, or through the “P3 Tips” mobile app.
Further details from the investigation are expected to be released tomorrow by the Urbana Police Department.
