3 dead following crash early Sunday morning in Kankakee

KANKAKEE – An early Sunday morning crash in the historic Kankakee Riverview neighborhood resulted in the death of three Kankakee men.

The names of the three Kankakee were released early Sunday afternoon.

The Kankakee County Coroner Bob Gessner identified the victims as: Kiyantis Riley, 45; Philip Birdsong, 48; and Jeffrey Clark II, 41, all of Kankakee.

Riley was the driver of the vehicle, officials reported.

The Kankakee Police Department, Kankakee County Coroner’s Office and Illinois State Police are investigating the crash.

All next-of-kin have been notified, Gessner said in a news release.

A preliminary report indicates the 2008 GMC Yukon the men were riding in left the roadway and crashed into a tree, Gessner said.

All three men were pronounced dead at the scene, Gessner said.

The vehicle was traveling west at a high rate a speed, according to a witness.

In a news release, Kankakee Police Chief Chris Kidwell said officers responded about 1:07 a.m. to the crash in the 900 block of South Cobb Boulevard.

The Yukon was engulfed in flames when Kankakee Police and Kankakee Fire Department personnel arrived at the scene.

First responders made attempts to rescue the vehicle’s occupants, but were forced back because of the intensity of the fire.