One dead after motorcycle crash near Centralia; interstate closed during morning commute

An early-morning fatal motorcycle accident closed the northbound lanes of Interstate 57 near Centralia on Thursday from about 5 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. as police investigated at the scene.

WJBD reported that 23-year-old Mason Wathan of Centralia was killed in the accident. Illinois State Police have arrested 21-year-old Johnathan Trotter of Evansville, Indiana man on charges of involuntary manslaughter and reckless homicide.

Illinois State Police said traffic was rerouted at exit 109 and returning to I-57 about seven miles down the highway. They had anticipated the lanes would be closed for several hours.

One person was killed in a crash between a vehicle and a motorcycle that was reported at 4:37 a.m. Thursday, according to the WJBD report.

No other details about the crash have been released, KMOV reported.

This story was originally published July 26, 2018 at 7:55 AM.