A Southern Illinois University student tragically lost her life in a multi-vehicle accident on Illinois 13/127 in rural Vergennes on Sunday evening.
The victim has been identified as Lyric Irby, an 18-year-old freshman from Peoria, Illinois, who was studying accounting in the College of Business and Analytics at SIU.
According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s office, Irby was driving southbound when she attempted to overtake two vehicles ahead of her, which led to a head-on collision with a northbound vehicle driven by James Summers, a 71-year-old resident of St. Charles, Missouri.
The collision was severe, resulting in the engine of Irby’s car igniting. Quick-thinking bystanders broke a window using a hammer to try to rescue her from the burning vehicle, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Summers was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. In the chaos of the crash, the two other southbound vehicles attempted to avoid the accident, leading to a minor crash between them.
Fortunately, the drivers of these vehicles — Jerry Ward, 66, of Murphysboro, and Trevor Turnbull, 18, of Rochester — sustained no injuries.
The somber news of Irby’s passing was shared with the SIU community by Chancellor Austin Lane in an email sent out on Monday morning.
The chancellor expressed the shock and sadness felt throughout the campus, stating, “We understand this tragic news comes as a shock to many of our students. As we mourn this loss in our community, we will keep Lyric’s family and friends in our thoughts and prayers.”
Lyric Irby’s death marks the fourth fatality involving SIU students this semester, following the deaths of Ramesh Muthina, Selena Hubbard, and Henry Souders in separate incidents in September. This has raised significant concern within the student body and the university community.
In response to the tragedy, the university is emphasizing the availability of mental health support services. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) are accessible for students facing mental health challenges.
Students can reach out by calling 618-453-5371 to arrange a same-day support visit or to schedule an appointment. Additionally, they can visit the Student Health Center, which operates from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
