Woman killed when car, tractor-trailer collide in Centreville. Police knew the victim
A 24-year-old Cahokia woman died instantly Monday when the sedan she was driving crossed over from the southbound lane into the northbound lane on South 50th Street in Centreville and struck a tractor-trailer.
A police lieutenant who was in the area reported the collision at 3 p.m., Centreville Detective DeMarius Thomas said.
St. Clair County Coroner Calvin Dye Sr. identified the victim as Martina Moran of Amelia Drive in Cahokia. Dye said she was pronounced at 3:06 p.m.
Thomas said the accident happened in the 800 block of South 50th Street, which is also known as Mousette Lane.
“Centreville Lt. Jerry Davis was just up the street,” Thomas said. “When he turned around he saw the green Toyota sedan had veered into the oncoming lane and struck the 18-wheel tractor-trailer truck head on,” Thomas said.
Thomas said police do not know why the car veered into the oncoming lane.
“Lt. Davis saw her coming down the street. She started coming into the truck driver’s lane. The driver said he thought she was going to cross back into her lane, but she kept coming. You could see where the truck driver started breaking. She hit him head on,” Thomas said.
The truck driver was from Michigan and was carrying a load. Asked whether he sustained any injuries, Thomas said there were no physical injuries, “ but he was visibly shaken up.”
Thomas said he knew Moran. “This was a pretty tough scene for officers to have to respond to. I knew the young lady. This one is especially hard. I am sending my condolences to her family. I want them to know I am lifting them in prayer,” Thomas said.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 9:39 PM.
