Granite City man died after crash in Madison. Police confirm gunshot wound to head
The identity of a man who died after he was shot and injured in a crash in Madison Friday was released by the police chief Monday.
Sterling D. Harrell, 29, of Granite City, died Sunday in a St. Louis hospital, according to a news release from Madison Police Chief Jeffrey Bridick.
Preliminary autopsy results show that the cause of death was likely a gunshot wound to the head and blunt force trauma caused from the crash, Bridick said.
The name of the second man injured in the crash has not been released. He remains hospitalized in stable condition.
Harrell was airlifted from Madison to a St. Louis hospital after the crash.
“Persons of interest have been identified and are being sought for questioning,” Bridick said.
Harrell was driving a car that crashed into a tree at an apparent high rate of speed at the intersection of Washington Avenue at 10th Street Friday night, police said.
Investigators have found evidence that there may have been gunshots fired prior to or after the crash, according to a news release from Bridick on Saturday.
Someone called the police Friday to say they heard gunshots before the crash.
The Madison County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police are assisting in the homicide investigation and Madison County State’s Attorney’s Office has been updated on the case.
Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact the Madison Police Department at 618-876-4300.
This story was originally published February 13, 2023 at 5:48 PM.
