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Downs man is 1 of 2 people killed in a Champaign County crash

Yellow police tape that says "Police Line Do Not Cross." The text "WGLT Police and Fire" is laid on top of that photo.
WGLT

A 78-year-old man from Downs was one of two people who were killed in a two-vehicle crash Thursday night in Champaign County.

According to a news release from Illinois State Police, the crash happened shortly before 8:30 p.m. on Illinois Route 47, a half-mile north of U.S. Route 136 northwest of Champaign.

ISP said Gordon Bane Jr. of Downs was driving a pickup truck north on Route 47 when it crossed the center line and struck a southbound vehicle head on. Bane was pronounced dead at the scene, along with the driver of the other vehicle, Christopher Lonis, 50, of Aurora.

A stretch of Illinois 47 was closed for about four hours for the crash investigation and vehicle recovery, police said.

ISP said it has no further information about the crash as an investigation is underway.

Eric Stock is the News Director at WGLT. You can contact Eric at ejstoc1@ilstu.edu.
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