Local News
Elisa Plancarte Dies After Vehicle Crashes Into Building on Hampden Boulevard in Reading
READING, Pa. — A 38-year-old woman has died following a serious motor vehicle crash earlier this week in the City of Reading, according to the Berks County Coroner’s Office.
The victim has been identified as Elisa Laura Plancarte, a resident of Maidencreek Township.
Berks County Coroner Matthew J. Stitzel confirmed that his office was notified at 9:52 a.m. on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, by medical staff at Tower Health/Reading Hospital that Plancarte had been pronounced deceased at 9:46 a.m.
Authorities say the crash occurred on Sunday, April 26, at approximately 2:10 a.m. A vehicle traveling along Hampden Boulevard struck a building located at 1820 Hampden Blvd., between Bern Street and College Avenue.
Plancarte was a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the collision and became trapped inside the wreckage due to the severity of the impact.
Emergency responders from the Reading Fire Department extricated her from the vehicle before she was transported by Reading EMS to the hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Despite continued care, Plancarte later succumbed to her injuries.
An autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday, April 30, at 9:00 a.m. at Tower Health/Reading Hospital.
The examination will be conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Neil Hoffman to determine the official cause and manner of death.
The Berks County Coroner’s Office is continuing its investigation with assistance from the Reading Police Department.
Additional details may be released as the investigation progresses.
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.