John M. Melton Obituary, Death: Seneca man dies in two-vehicle crash in Livingston County
John M. Melton Obituary, Death – A 54-year-old man from Seneca, Illinois, lost his life in a two-vehicle crash on June 19 in Sunbury Township. The Livingston County Coroner’s Office identified the victim as John M. Melton. According to the coroner’s report, Melton was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. An autopsy later confirmed that he died from blunt force injuries affecting his head, neck, and chest, which were consistent with trauma sustained in a car crash.
The collision occurred at approximately 10:40 a.m. at the intersection of Illinois Route 17 and Illinois Route 170, near the community of Blackstone. According to information provided by witnesses and authorities, Melton had been driving a Dodge Neon southbound on Route 170. As he pulled away from the stop sign at the intersection, his vehicle was struck on the driver’s side by a westbound Dodge Ram pickup truck.
The driver of the Dodge Ram was identified as 21-year-old Austin D. Browning of Birmingham, Alabama. Browning was reportedly unable to stop in time to avoid hitting Melton’s car. The force of the impact sent Melton’s vehicle off the road and into a ditch, where it sustained severe damage, particularly on the driver’s side. Browning’s vehicle also suffered noticeable damage to its front end, but there were no reports of injuries to him.
As of now, no citations have been issued in connection with the crash. Authorities are continuing their investigation to determine the full circumstances surrounding the incident. Both the Illinois State Police and the Livingston County Coroner’s Office are actively involved in examining the case further.
