Authorities release ID of Highland man killed in head-on crash on U.S. 50
A 30-year-old Highland man — who was a Navy veteran and father of 4-year-old twins — died in a head-on crash between a semi and a passenger vehicle early Tuesday on U.S. 50 near Lebanon.
According to Illinois State Police reports, at about 5:40 a.m., a Chevrolet HHR was westbound on U.S. 50 when the driver crossed the center line for unknown reasons.
According to state police, the Chevrolet HHR driven by the victim, Bradley M. Shelburg, smashed head-on into an eastbound semi truck. Shelburg worked at U.S. Transportation Command, based at Scott Air Force Base.
Shelburg’s sister, Charlea McNabb, recalled Shelburg as a loving father to his 4-year-old, identical twins, Brayden and Bryce.
“They meant the world to him,” McNabb said. “He loved being a dad. He was an amazing father. He lived for his sons and his wife.”
McNabb said Shelburg and his wife, April, met while both were serving in the Navy.
“They fell in love and got married and had twins,” McNabb said. “She’s devastated.”
Bradley Shelburg served in the Navy for seven years, McNabb said.
GUEST BOOK: Bradley M. Shelburg
Illinois State Police Trooper Calvin Dye Jr. said witnesses reported that the driver of the Chevrolet was thrown from his vehicle.
“After the Chevrolet passenger vehicle came to a rest, it became completely engulfed in flames,” Dye said.
The crash happened near the point where U.S. 50 splits into old U.S. 50 and new U.S. 50.
The highway was closed for a few hours during the investigation of the crash.
The driver of the semi, a 65-year-old man from Mascoutah, received minor injuries in the collision. Dye said he refused medical attention at the scene.
In the aftermath, the badly damaged semi truck sat off the side of the road while the passenger vehicle, its front smashed to the windshield, came to a rest on the shoulder.
Please avoid the area around US 50 and Old 50 near Summerfield while ISP works a serious crash. #ILTraffic
— IDOT District 8 (@IDOTDistrict8) April 12, 2016
This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 6:57 AM with the headline "Authorities release ID of Highland man killed in head-on crash on U.S. 50."