A 73-year-old Salem man was pronounced dead after becoming unresponsive while driving Wednesday on Interstate 57 in Effingham.
Arriving officers found Gerald Crist in the driver’s seat on the side of the interstate. Rural Med EMS attempted resuscitation, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Effingham County Corner Kim Rhodes was then called to the scene where Crist was pronounced dead.
Preliminary investigation indicates Crist was driving southbound on I-57 when his wife observed him going unresponsive. The vehicle ran off the road and struck a concrete barrier wall, which caused minimal damage to his vehicle.
Rhodes said the death was not caused by the crash, but due to a medical emergency while driving.
The investigation continues by the Effingham County Coroner’s office.
