Freeburg family says crash victim saved lives by swerving to miss car on Illinois 15
In Chance Green’s eyes, his father, Charles “Chuck” Green, acted heroically as he swerved to avoid hitting a car with three people in it.
Chuck Green, 53, of Freeburg died after the car he was driving crashed into a traffic light pole on Illinois 15 at the intersection with 11th Street in Belleville on Wednesday, authorities said.
Illinois State Police troopers are investigating the crash. Chuck Green was driving south on Illinois 15 at 11th Street when he left the roadway to his left for an “unknown reason” at 4:19 p.m. Wednesday and the driver’s side of the car hit a traffic light pole, according to a report. No other information was released.
Witnesses have told family members that Chuck Green swerved to avoid hitting a car in the intersection but then crashed into the traffic light, said Chance Green, who was riding in the passenger seat with his father at the time of the crash.
Chuck Green was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m. Wednesday at Memorial Hospital in Belleville, reported St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr.
Chance Green believes his father saved four lives that afternoon — the three people in the other car and himself. He suffered a cut on his left eyebrow and needed five stitches.
“I think in his final moments he put a protective bubble around me,” said Chance Green, who was looking at his phone when he felt the car move off the roadway.
Chuck Green was driving his son’s 2014 Audi. They were headed home after a trip to St. Louis Wednesday afternoon.
Family remembers crash victim
Chance Green said his dad loved history and hiking.
“He was a big proponent of understanding history to move forward,” Chance Green said.
“He could look at a situation politically and say, “Ah, yes in the year 205, this general did this to overcome the same kind of thing.’ It was really kind of cool how he could tie things together, you know, with that kind of knowledge.”
Chuck Green and his son recently hiked 30 miles on the Appalachian Trail in North Carolina.
Chance Green, who is 24 and earned his geology degree at Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, said it was his father’s love of the outdoors that prompted his interest in geology.
“He was an outdoorsman,” Chance Green said. “He taught me and my brother a lot about being outdoors, which is a big part of why I got into geology because he was always having me look at my feet and asking questions about the stuff you’re walking over.”
Chance Green said his father served five years in the U.S. Navy and this summer finished writing a science fiction novel, which Chance said he plans to get published.
“I think that would make him proud,” he said.
The family has started a GoFundMe page to help pay for funeral expenses.
Renner Funeral Home in Freeburg is handling arrangements with a visitation on Sunday and a funeral service at 10 a.m. Monday.
