Amisi M. Wilondja, a 25-year-old resident of Phoenix, Arizona, tragically lost his life on the night of Thursday, July 24, 2025, after being struck by a tractor-trailer on Interstate 70 in Madison County, Illinois.
The fatal collision occurred at approximately 10:30 p.m. in the westbound lanes near milepost 20, just west of Illinois State Route 4. On Monday, July 28, 2025, Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich officially identified the victim as Amisi Wilondja.
The Madison County Coroner’s Office was notified at 10:39 p.m., and Investigator Samuel T. Stone responded to the scene. Wilondja was pronounced deceased at 11:14 p.m. The driver of the tractor-trailer remained at the scene and is cooperating fully with investigators.
Preliminary findings from the coroner’s office indicate the cause of death as multi-system trauma. Standard toxicology tests have been performed, with results still pending. The final cause of death will be confirmed upon completion of all examinations and reports.
The incident is under active investigation by the Madison County Coroner’s Office, the Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit, and the Illinois State Police Zone 6 Division of Criminal Investigation. Interstate 70 westbound was closed for approximately six hours during the investigation, causing significant traffic disruptions.
Funeral arrangements for Amisi Wilondja have not been announced. His untimely passing has left a profound impact on his loved ones and community, marking a heartbreaking loss.