Two southwest Illinois motorcyclists dead in collision Friday with pickup truck

Two motorcyclists are dead after a two-vehicle crash Friday afternoon in Steeleville, Illinois, in Randolph County.

Dakota Morrison, a 26-year-old man from Chester was pronounced dead at the scene, and Diane Gilmer, a 31-year-old woman from Steeleville, died from her injuries at a hospital.

Morrison was driving a motorcycle with Gilmer riding as a passenger. According to Illinois State Police, Nicholas Cook, a 34-year-old man from Du Quoin, was driving a pickup truck east on Broadway Street near James Street in Steeleville around 1 p.m. Morrison and Gilmer were at the intersection’s stop sign when Illinois State Police said Cook crossed the westbound lane for an unknown reason, colliding with Morrison and Gilmer.

Cook was transported to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening.

This story was originally published April 23, 2022 at 2:30 PM with the headline "Two southwest Illinois motorcyclists dead in collision Friday with pickup truck."