Authorities Investigating Death of Minooka Man

The Effingham County Coroner’s Office is investigating the death of a Minooka man.

The Coroner's Office received a call at approximately 2:51am Saturday from HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital of a death in the emergency room. Coroner Kim Rhodes arrived and found that 28-year-old Alec Eaker had passed away at 2:49 am.

Preliminary information gathered from Fayette County Deputies revealed Eaker was found unresponsive in his vehicle on the side of the road along IL Route 37 just south of Edgewood at 1:20 am. He was transported to St Anthony Hospital by Rural Med EMS where he died.

Eaker had been stopped for speeding 95mph on I-57 SB near the Watson/Mason interchange at 11:19 pm Friday. Eaker advised the officer that he was speeding and he was on his way to Arkansas to work. It appeared Eaker went less than 15 miles after the traffic stop when he was found unresponsive two hours later. Rhodes reported there was no trauma or injury to Alec Eaker.

An autopsy was conducted Saturday morning at the Champaign County Regional Autopsy Center in Urbana. Those results are pending and should be received in approximately 30 days. Eaker’s family was notified in Minooka, and medical records were requested to assist in the investigation.

If anyone had any contact with Alec Eaker or saw his vehicle (2020 black Ford Fusion, Illinois Registration DH60138) between 11:19 pm Friday and 1:20 am Saturday, please contact the Effingham County Coroner’s office at 217-342-4651.

The investigation is continuing by the Effingham County Coroner’s Office.