Vandalia Mourns the Loss of Four Killed in Saturday Crash

Four people were killed in a two-vehicle accident in Montgomery County on Saturday evening. The parents and the teenage daughter of Vandalia High School Principal Randy Protz, as well as his daughter’s best friend, were all pronounced dead at the scene as they were returning home from the Vandals playoff football game.

A prayer vigil was held Sunday afternoon at Vandalia Community High School.

Illinois State Police indicate that at 6:21 pm a vehicle was traveling eastbound and another vehicle was westbound on Illinois Route 185 near East 14th Road in the Coffeen area. The westbound pickup driven by a 17-year-old boy from Harvel crossed into the oncoming lane and struck the eastbound vehicle head-on. All four individuals in the eastbound vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene by the Montgomery County Coroner. 

Those in the eastbound vehicle were 72-year old Jackolyn C. Protz of Sullivan, 73-year-old William H. Protz of Sullivan, and two freshman students at VCHS, Holly Lidy and Jenna Protz, both 14 years old. 

The driver of the pickup suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown from the scene to a local trauma center.

The Illinois State Police Reconstruction Unit is continuing the investigation.

An effort is underway to show support for Vandalia by wearing red on Monday, Vandalia's school color.

A note, also, that Altamont's girls basketball team was scheduled to play Vandalia Tuesday night. That has been postponed and will be re-scheduled at a later date.