Identity of man killed in Belleville accident released by St. Clair County coroner

(This article has been updated with the identity of the driver who was killed.)

A man died Thursday when the pickup truck he was driving left the roadway and struck several trees on Illinois 15 in Belleville.

Keith McGinness, 47, whose last known address was Knight Bridge Lane in Edwardsville, died in the accident, according to St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Belleville police were dispatched at 10:59 a.m. to Illinois 15 eastbound near Allsup Drive after a report of a single vehicle accident, said Lt. Col. Mark Heffernan, assistant police chief.

“When the officers arrived on scene they located a gray 2015 GMC pickup truck that had left the roadway to the right and struck several trees,” Heffernan said. “Belleville Fire and Abbott EMS also responded to extricate and treat the driver who was the only occupant in the vehicle.”

Heffernan said witnesses told police “the truck involved in the accident was traveling at a high rate of speed and was having difficulty maintaining its lane prior to the crash.”

The Belleville Police Department’s Crime Scene Unit was also on scene to investigate the crash, Heffernan said.

This story was originally published March 14, 2024 at 3:01 PM.