Local News
18-Year-Old Tori Bunch Killed in Head-On Crash on SH 136 in Potter County
POTTER COUNTY, Texas — A tragic head-on crash early Tuesday morning on State Highway 136 in Potter County left one teenager dead and another seriously injured, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety.
Troopers said the crash occurred at approximately 5:51 a.m. on May 26 along SH 136 south of El Rancho Road.
Preliminary findings from the investigation indicate that a 2016 Ford F-150, driven by 17-year-old Elias Shane Kincanon of Amarillo, was traveling northbound in the southbound lane when it collided head-on with a 2017 Ford Fusion driven by 18-year-old Tori Dakota Bunch of Panhandle.
Authorities said the impact caused severe damage to both vehicles and ignited the pickup truck in flames shortly after the collision. Good Samaritans at the scene reportedly rushed to help and were able to pull Kincanon from the burning vehicle before the fire intensified.
Kincanon was transported by ambulance to Northwest Texas Hospital in Amarillo with serious injuries.
DPS confirmed that Bunch suffered fatal injuries in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene.
Investigators said both drivers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the collision.
Officials also reported that a secondary crash occurred moments after the initial impact when another southbound vehicle struck the back right quarter panel of the Ford F-150. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in the secondary collision.
The Texas Department of Public Safety continues to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deadly crash.
The tragic incident has left the community mourning the loss of a young life while others pray for the recovery of the injured driver.
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.