Illinois
Police identify 2 men killed in Springfield Township crash
SPRINGFIELD TOWNSHIP, Ohio (WXIX) – Two men died in a Springfield Township crash Thursday afternoon, according to police.
On Dec 26 at 4:30 p.m., Springfield Police and Fire responded to the 9600 block of Daly Road for an auto crash, police say.
According to police, witnesses at the scene said they saw a head-on collision between a gray Toyota Sienna and a black Mercedes SUV.
Police say when they arrived on scene, the Toyota Sienna was on fire and both drivers had to be pulled from their vehicles.
The driver of the Mercedes SUV was identified as 55-year-old Jim Schneider from Cincinnati, who was pronounced dead at the scene according to a press release.
The driver of the Toyota Sienna was identified as 41-year-old Christopher Larkins from Springfield Township, the release says.
Police say Larkins was transported to UC Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
According to the Springfield Township Traffic Safety Investigators, it is believed that Larkins lost control of his vehicle going around a curve and drove left of center, hitting Schneider’s vehicle head-on.
Neither of the drivers is believed to have worn a seatbelt.
Officials believe speed was a factor and are working with the Hamilton County Coroner’s Office to determine impairment with a toxicology report.
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WHEELING, Ill. (WLS) — North suburban police believe a man found dead near the Chicago Executive Airport viewing area on Sunday morning may have been killed in a crash.
Prospect Heights police said its officers responded to the area of 79 Palatine Frontage Road in Wheeling just after 9 a.m.
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There, officers found a man lying on the ground along the fence. Police said the man, who was unconscious and cold to the touch, was pronounced dead on the scene.
A preliminary investigation indicates that the man may have been hit by a vehicle, police said.
When officers arrived on the scene, there were no witnesses or vehicles that appeared to be connected to the possible crash.
East Palatine Frontage Road at Milwaukee Avenue is closed as police investigate.
No one is in custody. The Prospect Heights Police Department asked anyone with information to call them at 847-398-5511.
Authorities did not immediately provide further information.
Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.
New federal rules now require certain adults, veterans, and people without housing to work or volunteer 80 hours a month or face a three-month limit on food assistance, with the Greater Chicago Food Depository warning roughly 120,000 Illinois residents could be affected.
Sangamon Auditorium gets a revamped look with a planned opening in fall
Check out the work being done at the Sangamon Auditorium at University of Illinois Springfield. The auditorium has been closed since June 2025.
Get your kicks on Route 66 in southwest Illinois this summer as communities along the Last 100 Miles of the historic highway mark the road’s 100th anniversary with festivals, concerts and themed products.
The centennial celebration officially kicked off April 30, launching a season of events across the region, according to a community announcement.
Local businesses are also joining the centennial. Old Herald Brewery & Distillery in Collinsville partnered with Mississippi Culture in Staunton to create Kicks on 66 Craft Beer, a cream ale with vanilla and citrus notes inspired by classic soda fountain flavors, according to the announcement. Duke Bakery locations in Alton and Granite City added a Route 66–themed soda to their Duke Beverage line of glass-bottled drinks in honor of the milestone.
May events along Route 66
A series of May activities begins with a Big Foot-themed event at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall, 908 Veterans Memorial Parkway in Livingston on May 9. The free, family-friendly gathering includes games, vendors and a Sasquatch Holler Contest outside the century-old building, which is known for its collection of fiberglass giants, according to the announcement.
Additional May events include a Pet Adoption Day on May 23 at the West End Service Station, 620 St. Louis St. in Edwardsville, and an Edwardsville Symphony concert honoring Route 66 on May 24 at City Park.
June festivals and celebrations
Jeep owners and Route 66 enthusiasts are scheduled to take part in the Route 66 Jeep Run on June 6. The run starts at the Litchfield Skyview Drive-In and ends at the It’s Electric Neon Sign Park in Granite City, with registration set at $20.66 per Jeep, according to the announcement.
Collinsville will host the International Horseradish Festival on June 5 and 6 in the Uptown District. The long-running festival, which celebrates the area’s horseradish heritage, is free to attend.
Edwardsville’s annual Route 66 Festival returns to City Park on June 13, featuring live music, vendors and a classic car cruise, according to the announcement.
Classic car fans will see the Hemmings Great Race presented by Coker Tire roll through the region on June 20. The nine-day rally, themed around Route 66 for 2026, begins in Springfield, Illinois, and makes a stop in Uptown Collinsville, where the cars will be on display from about 4:15 to 7 p.m.
That same day, Collinsville is scheduled to host the Catsup Bottle Festival from 2 to 7 p.m. at Old Herald Square, 111 E. Clay St. The free, family-friendly event celebrates the World’s Tallest Catsup Bottle water tower with live music, food contests and activities, according to the announcement.
Other June activities listed in the announcement include a birthday celebration at the West End Service Station in Edwardsville on June 6, a Route 66 Tractor Drive on June 20 beginning in Litchfield, a Route 66 celebration at the Pink Elephant Antique Mall on June 20, a Route 66 Jubilee in Carlinville on June 26, and an Edwardsville Symphony outdoor concert on June 28.
Fall festival and roadside attractions
Organizers also announced plans for the Last 100 Miles Festival on Oct. 10 and 11, when 13 communities along Route 66 in southwest Illinois are expected to host events throughout the weekend.
Beyond scheduled festivals, travelers are encouraged to explore roadside landmarks and long-standing eateries along the route, including the It’s Electric Neon Sign Park and Giants of Granite City, the Chain of Rocks Bridge, and diners such as Weezy’s in Hamel, the Ariston Café and Jubelt’s Bakery & Restaurant in Litchfield, Doc’s Just Off 66 in Girard and the Twistee Treat Diner in Livingston, according to the announcement.
Route 66 in southwest Illinois is widely recognized as the birthplace of the highway and remains a focal point for centennial celebrations highlighting the road’s history and cultural legacy.
This story was created by Dave DeMille, ddemille@gannett.com, with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more at cm.usatoday.com/ethical-conduct.
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