Teutopolis, IL — A devastating incident involving a tanker truck carrying anhydrous ammonia led to a tragic accident in Teutopolis, Illinois, on September 29, 2023, which claimed the lives of five individuals, including a father and his two children. A teen from Ohio has confessed to inadvertently causing the catastrophic event, according to a federal investigation.
The 17-year-old girl, who has not been identified due to her juvenile status, revealed in a recorded interview with federal investigators that she was unaware her actions on the road could lead to such disastrous consequences. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), which released excerpts of the interview on October 2, detailed the sequence of events that led to the crash.
During the interview conducted at Wright State Campus Police Department, the teenager was informed of her rights and questioned about the incident. Initially perplexed about the need for an attorney, she expressed confusion over her involvement, indicating she learned of the crash through news reports like most others.
She explained that she was traveling through Illinois to visit her mother’s long-distance boyfriend. Recalling the events, she mentioned making a detour from the usual route due to another accident, which led her to unknowingly approach the area where the tanker was located.
Authorities questioned her about a specific tanker, and while she couldn’t recall specific details about the vehicles around her, she remembered overtaking a slow-moving vehicle. What seemed like a routine maneuver on a busy road had unforeseen ramifications.
“I just remember seeing the emergency vehicles coming the other way,” the teen told authorities. She presumed any incident occurred behind her, continuing her travel without awareness of the ensuing chaos.
The reality of her involvement became apparent only later, during her interview with the NTSB, when investigators presented dash cam footage linking her mother’s van to the scene moments before the crash. Upon viewing the footage, her initial reaction mixed shock with realization as she acknowledged her role in the tragic events.
Tom Chapman, an NTSB board member, noted in a briefing that the chemical tanker jackknifed and collided with a parked trailer following the teen’s high-speed maneuver. The victims of this tragic accident were identified as Kenneth Bryan, 34, and his children Rosie, 7, and Walker, 10, from Beecher City, Illinois; Danny J. Smith, 67, from New Haven, Missouri; and Vasile Cricovan, 31, from Twinsburg, Ohio.
The incident has raised questions about road safety and the responsibilities of drivers on busy highways. It also highlights the potential dangers of hazardous material transport and the chain reactions a single driving decision can trigger.
As the community mourns the loss and investigators continue to gather details, this tragedy serves as a painful reminder of the critical importance of road safety awareness and the profound impact of everyday decisions made behind the wheel.