Autopsies Being Conducted, Grief Counseling at Beecher City School in Aftermath of Friday Crash (ADDL INFO)

Autopsies are being completed today on the five people who died Friday night after a tanker truck crash resulted in a release of anhydrous ammonia into the atmosphere.

The incident happened about 8:40pm on westbound US Route 40, a short distance east of Teutopolis. A father and his two children died along with two out-of-state residents. All indications are that the deaths were due to the anhydrous release, not the crash itself.

34-year-old Kenneth Bryan of Teutopolis and his children, seven-year-old Rosie Bryan and 10-year-old Walker Bryan, both from Beecher City, were at a residence near the crash scene.

Counselors were on hand at Beecher City schools today to meet with the children's fellow students, as well as teachers and other school personnel. Beecher City Superintendent Phil Lark said this morning that a meeting was held Sunday to get ready for the school day today. He said therapy dogs were at the school and he said the dogs were very well-received by the students.

Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes left Effingham early today for the Champaign County Regional Autopsy Center in Urbana where the autopsies into the deaths began at 7am. 

Approximately 500 people were evacuated from the northeast part of Teutopolis due to the anhydrous release. The last group of residents was allowed to return home shortly before 8pm Saturday.

The investigation is continuing by the Effingham County Coroner's Office, Illinois State Police, ISP Traffic Crash Reconstruction, National Transportation Safety Board, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency. Approximately 100 first responders from the area assisted during the incident.

The animals at the Jordan Elmore home, which was where Friday night's incident occurred, have reported that all of their animals...farm animals and pets...have died as a result of the release of anhydrous. In case you have had the same results with your animals, you can phone Dr. Sandra Gilmore at the Illinois Department of Agriculture. We have two numbers you can try...217-299-7233 or 217-782-4944.

The Elmores were not at home at the time of the incident.