CARMI, IL — We now know the names of the two men who died in a Monday night crash in Carmi.
Carmi Police Chief Jason Carter says they are 29-year-old James I. Grant and 21-year-old Brandon L. Rhodes, both of Carmi.
Chief Carter says officers responded to the scene at 5th and Fackney Street around 9:30 Monday night and found a black 2006 Pontiac G6 that had been wrecked and was in the intersection of 5th and Fackney. They found Grant and Rhodes inside the vehicle. The men were pronounced dead at the scene. Grant was driving the car. Rhodes was his passenger.
The chief says it appears the car was traveling south at an extremely high rate of speed on 5th Street when witnesses said the car did not slow down for the stop sign at 5th and Sycamore and continued south before leaving the roadway on the west side and striking a large tree at 5th and Fackney.
Witnesses said it appeared the car was torn apart with the motor, tire and debris being thrown through a fence at a home located at 515 5th Street.
Evidence collected at the scene indicates that alcohol could have contributed to the accident.
The roadways were shut down until 1:45 Tuesday morning.
Carmi Police were assisted by the White County Sheriff’s Office, Carmi Police Auxiliary, White County Ambulance Service, White County Coroner’s Office, Carmi Fire Department and Cherry St. Auto.