GALLATIN CO., Ill. - Gallatin County Coroner Tony Cox has released information regarding a traffic accident that occurred this morning in the Shawneetown area, one which claimed the life of a local woman.Gallatin County Coroner Tony Cox has released information regarding a traffic accident that occurred this morning in the Shawneetown area, one which claimed the life of a local woman.
Cox said that at approximately 5:03 a.m. today (Saturday, February 9), his office was summoned to Smokey Road near Shawneetown for a deceased person from an automobile accident.Upon arriving, the coroner pronounced Molly R. Bryant, 23 (CORRECTED) of Junction, dead at the scene.
Cox said that Bryant was involved in a single-car accident as the driver, with no passengers involved. Bryant apparently lost control of the car and skidded off the road into a tree, where the vehicle caught fire. An individual going to work this morning came upon the accident and reported it. The Shawneetown Fire Department was called to extinguish the fire; the Gallatin County Sheriff's Department was also present this morning investigating the accident.
Cox noted that this was a "straight road transitioning from gravel to blacktop surface where the accident started."
Cox' office and the sheriff's department are investigating and will release further info when all testing and results are in.