Coroner releases identity of infant killed in interstate crash near Edwardsville

Madison County Coroner Stephen Nonn has released the identity of the person who was killed in a vehicle crash near Edwardsville on Friday.

Grayson A. Mueller, just 2 months old, of Collinsville, was the passenger in a car driven by his father, Christian A. Mueller, 23, of Granite City. The child was restrained in a rear-facing infant car seat.

The accident occurred about 10 a.m. in the westbound lanes of Interstate 270, east of Interstate 255.

Christian Mueller was driving a 2012 blue Ford Focus when he was rear-ended by a 2011 white Ford F-350 truck driven by William E. Ball, 42, of St. Louis, according to Illinois State Police. Mueller was merging into the middle lane because the right lane was closed for construction.

Grayson Mueller was transported by ambulance from the scene to the Anderson Hospital emergency room in Maryville, where he died from his injuries.

The preliminary cause of death is blunt head trauma, Nonn said. The coroner will make a final determination on completion of autopsy and toxicology tests.

The case remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police District 11 and the Madison County coroner’s office.

A visitation for Grayson Mueller will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 7, at Lake View Funeral Home in Fairview Heights. A memorial service at the funeral home will follow at 6 p.m.

This story was originally published August 30, 2021 at 5:07 PM.