St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department released a photo of the aftermath of a fatal accident near Summerfield in which both vehicles are shown to be overturned off-road. A Trenton man died Sunday, Sept. 16 from injuries sustained in a two-vehicle accident in rural St. Clair County near Summerfield.
The St. Clair Sheriff’s Department responded to a fatal accident at approximately 11:20 a.m. on Sunday at the intersection of North Grove School and Dressel-Schoene roads.
Andrea M. Frein, 35, of New Baden was traveling north on Dressel-Schoene Road in a 1997 Ford SUV when she allegedly failed to yield before entering the intersection at North Grove School Road. Frein struck the driver’s side of a 2018 Ford pickup truck driven by Donn B. Evans, 69, of Trenton.
Evans was transported to St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in O’Fallon where he later died. Frein was airlifted to a hospital in St. Louis with unknown injuries.
St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department released a photo of the aftermath of the accident in which both vehicles are shown to be overturned off-road.
The Metro-East Accident Reconstruction Team is currently conducting an investigation to determine the factors leading up to the crash. The estimated completion time is several months.
Evans was the owner/operator of Lebanon Auto Parts in Lebanon since 1974. He was a former pilot and enjoyed fishing, restoring cars, trap shooting, riding his motorcycle, stock car racing (where he was the track champion at Highland Speedway two years in a row), but most of all spending time with his grandchildren.
Obituary information for Evans can be found on page 5A.
New Baden Fire Department and several area departments responded to a house fire on Lila Court in New Baden on Sunday, Sept. 16. Clinton County deputy Eric McClaren was commended Monday night for the off-duty rescue of two Hoffman citizens early Friday, Sept. 14.
The Clinton County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call at 4:05 a.m. The female caller stated her home on South Broadway Street was on fire and she could not get out.
According to Sheriff Doug Maue, McClaren had completed his shift but still had his portable radio on. When he heard the distress call, McClaren realized his Hoffman residence was close by and drove over.
Maue said McClaren helped two people through a first-floor window, then broke down the front door to rescue their pets.
“He didn’t have to go. He was off duty. But he’s a good deputy,” said Maue. “That’s what we call going above and beyond.”
The Hoffman fire was one of several fires afflicting Clinton County in the past week. On Sunday, Sept. 16, a fire on Lila Court in New Baden destroyed the home of a family of three.
New Baden Police Chief Scott Meinhardt was on routine morning patrol when he noticed smoke coming from the west side of the house. Upon further investigation, he realized it was on fire and banged on the door, waking up Ottilie Hoffman and her 5-year-old son. Hoffman’s husband Bryan was already at work. She was able to reclaim a few small personal items and her dog, Rusty, before evacuating the house, leaving most of her family’s personal possessions behind.
“Yesterday we lost our beloved house to a fire,” wrote Hoffman in a Facebook post. “Our house and contents are a total loss. We still have both vehicles and Bryan’s bass boat.
“We are so very thankful to have a host of friends and family supporting and caring for us during this time. Prayers are appreciated and coveted while we work through this mess.”
According to Meinhardt, the fire likely started from a trash can next to the garage. Several local fire departments responded to the call, but the fire spread quickly and engulfed the house, consuming “a good portion” of the structure. Meinhardt described “extensive damage” to the house. While the New Baden Fire Department is still investigating, Meinhardt said they believe it to be an accident.
“I’m just glad I could be there. The fire moved pretty rapidly. A few minutes one way or another could have made a huge difference,” said Meinhardt.
A third fire, on South Lincoln Boulevard in Centralia, is believed to have been started by a pot on a kitchen stove early Monday, Sept. 17.
The three-story apartment building was vacated by Takeshia Williams and her three children, who lived on the second floor where the fire started, as well as Anthony Clark, who lived on the third floor.
Centralia Fire Department Chief John Lynch said there were no injuries reported, and though the building is structurally sound, the interior sustained heavy damage.
BREESE JOURNAL PHOTO | JEREMY CHAWGO
Breaking down — Mater Dei senior defensive back Garrett Foppe breaks down to tackle Freeburg’s Brendan Meng in the first half of the Knights’ 56-28 win over the visiting Midgets on Friday night. Mater Dei is now 4-0 on the season while Freeburg fell to 3-1. The Mater Dei Knights offense continues to roll on all cylinders as they dismantled previously unbeaten Freeburg 56-28 on Friday at home.
Mater Dei outgained the Midgets 572-410 in total offense while senior quarterback Travis Jasper was responsible for 416 of those yards.
“We are very pleased with where our offense is right now,” said Mater Dei head coach Jim Stiebel. “I’m proud of the way we played, our effort was excellent.”
The Knights rushed for 322 yards which included 19 carries, 182 yards and a score from Jasper. Fellow senior Logan Ratermann ran the ball 12 times for 72 yards, two touchdowns and a 2-point conversion.
Jasper was 12-of-17 for 234 yards through the air with three touchdown passes.
“He’s playing very well right now. He goes about it with a quiet confidence and is always smiling,” said Stiebel.
Garrett Foppe’s two receptions were both touchdowns accounting for 61 yards. Mitchell Haake added two catches for 87 yards and a score.
“We have a lot of weapons on the field and Travis is doing a good job getting the ball to the right spot,” said Stiebel. “They had no answer for our running game so we took advantage of that quite often.”
Freeburg scored first in quick fashion in the first quarter as Cal Clossen hit Griffin Range on a 35-yard touchdown down the MD sideline as they led 7-0 just 37 seconds into the contest.
Mater Dei responded on their first possession when Jasper hit Foppe on a 29-yard score that capped a 9-play drive before their 2-point attempt failed.
Freeburg marched down the field only to see Foppe pick off Clossen and return the ball 78 yards for an interception score that gave MD a 12-7 lead.
After the Midgets turned the ball over on downs, the Knights scored on their second offensive possession when Jasper scored from 1-yard out to cap a 47-yard drive as the lead was 20-7 after a Ratermann run conversion entering the second quarter.
Freeburg scored on their first play in the second quarter when Clossen hit Tyler White with a 14-yard touchdown as they trailed 20-14.
After the Knights turned the ball over on downs, their defense picked them up when Foppe picked off Clossen for the second time in the half.
The Knights converted seven plays later when Zach Napovanice scored from 11 yards out in front of a Jasper to Ben Kassen conversion that made the score 28-14 in favor of MD at the half.
Mater Dei scored on their first two possessions of the second half to start the rout as Ratermann scored from 6 yards out six minutes into the third quarter in front of a Jasper to Haake touchdown pass of 53 yards as MD led 42-14.
Freeburg mounted a 7-play, 68-yard drive that cumulated in a 4-yard touchdown run from Tanner Little as FCHS trailed 42-21 with 43 seconds left in the third quarter.
Jasper went back to work in the fourth quarter when he found Foppe for a 32-yard touchdown pass as MD extended their lead to 49-21.
Ratermann added his second TD of the contest later in the frame as he scored from 1-yard out to give Mater Dei a 56-21 lead with 5:27 left in the game.
Little busted through the MD defense later in the quarter as he scored from 77 yards out to wrap up the scoring.
Little was strong for Freeburg as he ran the ball 17 times for 179 yards and two touchdowns.
Clossen was 16-of-29 under center for the Midgets with 227 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
Freeburg senior Brendan Meng had 500 yards of total offense and eight touchdowns coming into the game where Mater Dei held him to one catch for 22 yards.
Foppe led the defense with two picks and five tackles while Kassen Ratermann and Justin Thole each had a sack. Thole and Nic Seelhoefer each had 10 tackles in the win.
The Knights are now 4-0 on the season and will travel to play Central in the annual “Milk Bowl” game.
Mater Dei owns a 32-9 record in the regular-season series and a 33-10 record overall which includes playoffs.
Central enters the game with a 3-1 record with wins over Wood River, Salem and Carlyle and a loss to Freeburg.
| Fri., Sept. 14 |
448.17 |
| Sun., Sept. 16 |
447.87 |
| Tues., Sept. 18 |
447.54 |
| Sept. 12 | .00 |
| Sept. 13 |
.00 |
| Sept. 14 |
.00 |
| Sept. 15 | .00 |
| Sept. 16 | .00 |
| Sept. 17 |
.00 |
| Sept. 18 | .00 |
