The victim of a tragic accident has been identified as Lyric Irby, an 18-year-old freshman from Peoria, Illinois, who was pursuing an accounting degree in the College of Business and Analytics at Southern Illinois University (SIU).
According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s office, the accident occurred when Irby was driving southbound and attempted to overtake two vehicles ahead of her. This maneuver resulted in a head-on collision with a northbound vehicle driven by 71-year-old James Summers from St. Charles, Missouri. The collision was catastrophic, leading to Irby’s car igniting shortly after the impact. Despite the heroic efforts of bystanders who used a hammer to break a window in an attempt to rescue her, Irby was pronounced dead at the scene.
Summers was transported to a nearby hospital for medical treatment. In the aftermath of the crash, the two southbound vehicles, driven by Jerry Ward, 66, of Murphysboro, and Trevor Turnbull, 18, of Rochester, attempted to avoid the incident, resulting in a minor collision between them. Fortunately, neither Ward nor Turnbull sustained injuries.
The somber news of Irby’s passing was communicated to the SIU community by Chancellor Austin Lane in an email sent on Monday morning. The chancellor expressed profound shock and sadness, acknowledging the impact of this tragedy on students and staff alike. “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,” he wrote.
Lyric Irby’s death marks the fourth fatality involving SIU students this semester, following the recent deaths of Ramesh Muthina, Selena Hubbard, and Henry Souders in separate incidents in September. This alarming trend has raised significant concerns within the university community.
In light of this tragedy, SIU is emphasizing the availability of mental health support services for students. Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) are accessible for those experiencing emotional distress. Students are encouraged to reach out by calling 618-453-5371 to arrange for same-day support or schedule an appointment. The Student Health Center is also available during weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to provide additional resources and support.
