Local News
23-year-old Katie Shaw Killed In Wrong-Way Driving Crash In North County St.Louis
ST. LOUIS COUNTY, Mo. — One person has died and four others were injured following a wrong-way crash late Friday night in North St. Louis County, according to police.
Officers with the St. Louis County Police Department’s North County Precinct responded at approximately 10:44 p.m. on April 3, 2026, to a reported motor vehicle collision in the northbound lanes of Lewis & Clark Boulevard near Highway 67.
Upon arrival, they located two heavily damaged vehicles—a black Kia Forte and a silver Mercury Grand Marquis—with multiple victims at the scene.
Preliminary findings indicate that the Kia Forte was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes of Lewis & Clark Boulevard when it collided head-on with the Mercury Grand Marquis, which was traveling northbound.
The driver of the Mercury, identified as 23-year-old Katie Shaw, sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced deceased.
Three passengers in the Mercury were also injured.
A 23-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman were transported to area hospitals in critical condition, while a 22-year-old woman was taken for treatment of injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The driver of the Kia, an adult female, was also transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities noted that several motorists were in the area at the time of the crash and may have witnessed the incident.
Detectives are urging anyone with information to contact the St. Louis County Police Department at 314-615-5400.
The investigation remains active and ongoing as officials continue to gather evidence and determine the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
Local News
29-Year-Old Alex Rodriguez Found Dead on University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, No Foul Play Suspected
URBANA, Ill. — A 29-year-old Champaign man found dead on the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign campus Monday morning has been identified as Alex C. Rodriguez, according to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office.
The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) responded to the area of Green and Wright streets at approximately 6:42 a.m. after receiving a report of an unresponsive person near the Alma Mater statue.
Officers arrived and found Rodriguez on a concrete bench. Emergency medical assistance was requested at the scene.
The Champaign County Coroner’s Office responded, and Rodriguez was pronounced dead at approximately 7:16 a.m., according to Coroner Laurie Brauer.
Authorities said Rodriguez was not affiliated with the University of Illinois.
UIPD provided an update Monday afternoon, saying preliminary observations at the scene revealed no signs of foul play.
Police also said there was no evidence of an ongoing threat to the university campus or surrounding community based on the information available when officers responded.
Because investigators did not identify an active threat, the university did not issue an Illini-Alert emergency notification.
The circumstances surrounding Rodriguez’s death have not been determined.
An autopsy has been scheduled, and the death remains under investigation by the University of Illinois Police Department.
Authorities have not released additional information about the circumstances leading to Rodriguez’s death.
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional details are expected as investigators receive further information from the autopsy and other evidence.
No foul play has been indicated based on the preliminary investigation.