Metro-east woman, 46, dies in Jeep crash, sheriff’s department says

A 46-year-old Valmeyer woman died in a single-vehicle crash early Saturday in Monroe County and a man was critically injured, the sheriff’s department said.

The names of the victims have not been released.

A preliminary accident investigation shows a 2023 Jeep with two occupants crashed at about 1:24 a.m. on Bluff Road near Harris Lane south of Columbia, according to a news release from Sgt. Justin Biggs of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.

“Deputies, along with several Good Samaritans who came upon the scene shortly after the crash, immediately began rendering first aid to both individuals,” according to the news release.

The woman was pronounced deceased at the scene while the driver, a 53-year-old Valmeyer man, was transported to a St. Louis area hospital and was listed in critical condition.

“Out of respect for the families involved, the identities of the occupants are being withheld pending notification of next of kin,” Biggs said in his announcement.

“At this time, it is unknown what caused the vehicle to leave the roadway,” he said.

The Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit responded to assist in the investigation.

Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Investigator Jim Vogt of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department at 618-939-8651, ext. 271.

This was the second fatal crash in the past week in the Columbia area. A Caseyville man died after a motorcycle crash in Columbia on Saturday, April 26.

This story was originally published May 3, 2025 at 11:33 AM.