One dead, six others injured in car crash on Illinois 161 in Clinton County
A 50-year-old man is dead and six others were injured in a multiple-vehicle crash on Illinois 161 near Germantown on Saturday.
Michael E. Gebke died Saturday at St. Louis University Hospital following the accident. It happened just before 1 p.m. on the state route, about 1-10th of a mile east of Germantown, Clinton County Acting Chief Deputy Dan Travous said Tuesday.
When sheriff’s deputies arrived, they found three cars were involved in the crash. Travous said it appeared a truck driven by Gebke was eastbound when it crossed the center line and struck two westbound cars.
Gebke’s truck sideswiped a car driven by 69-year-old Agnes Schrage of Breese, who was treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries, Travous said.
Gebke’s truck also collided head-on with a car driven by Anna Qualls, 33, of Centralia, who was seriously injured and is now recovering at St. Louis University Hospital. In the car with Qualls were one other adult and two children, all of whom received non-life-threatening injuries.
Travous said Gebke was driving to work at the time of the accident. He said the department is still investigating why the truck crossed the center line.
According to his obituary, Gebke was a Breese native and avid bowler. He worked at Outback Video and Receptions by Robin in Breese and had recently been employed at Bartelso Bowling Alley. He also helped Wintermann Auction Service in Carlyle and would often work driving buses for sports teams and party buses.
Gebke was a board member of the Greater Carlyle Bowling Assoication and secretary for the Bartelso Bowl men’s league. He also enjoyed scratch off lottery tickets, playing bingo and spending time with friends and family, the obituary said.
“Mike’s heart was biggest of all, always there to lend a helping hand and supporting any charity or fundraiser he could,” the obituary states. “He knew no stranger, and his smile and love for life will be missed by all who knew him.”
A celebration of life will be held for Gebke on Thursday from 4 to 8 p.m. at Receptions by Robin and Venue at 290 N. Main St. in Breese. As a tribute to Gebke, who only wore pants to weddings and funerals, friends and family have asked that shorts be the preferred attire at the event.
This story was originally published January 28, 2020 at 2:31 PM.
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