PONTOON BEACH – Madison County Coroner Nicholas P. Novacich on Monday identified two female passengers who died after a two-car crash late Saturday night, May 2, 2026, in Pontoon Beach.
The victims were Janecia N. Gardner, 32, of Pontoon Beach, and La Traya N. Hughes, 17, of Alton, Novacich said in information on Tuesday, May 5, 2026.
The crash occurred at about 11:27 p.m., May 2, 2026, north of 2188 Illinois State Route 111 in Pontoon Beach.
Madison County Coroner’s Investigator Samual T. Stone responded to the scene and pronounced Gardner dead at 12:19 a.m. May 3, and Hughes dead at 12:21 a.m. May 3, 2026, Novacich said.
Novacich said the drivers of the vehicles were treated at the scene and taken to area hospitals. Their conditions were unknown at this time, the coroner said.
Autopsies were conducted to assist in identifying the cause and manner of death. Routine toxicology results were pending, Novacich said.
At the request of the Pontoon Beach Police Department, the Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit was called to the scene to assist in determining the cause of the crash.
The case remained under investigation by the Pontoon Beach Police Department, the Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit, and the Madison County Coroner’s Office.
Funeral arrangements for Gardner were pending with Officer Funeral Home in East St. Louis.
Arrangements for Hughes were pending with Harrison Funeral Home in Alton.
