Police seek info in Route 251 hit-and-run crash that killed Ottawa man

Illinois State Police are seeking information about a hit-and-run crash that killed an Ottawa man May 10 on Route 251 near Troy Grove.

On Thursday, Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 1 issued a request for the public’s assistance in the investigation surrounding the death of 25-year-old Jerome Johnson of Ottawa.

State police responded to reports of a fatal hit-and-run crash at 2:32 a.m. May 10 on Route 251, about a quarter-mile south of North 36th Road in Dimmick Township.

Johnson, police said, had been involved in an earlier traffic crash where his vehicle came to rest off the right side of the road. He was able to exit his vehicle, started walking on Route 251 and was struck by a passing motorist.

The motorist who struck Johnson failed to stop and continued traveling north, police said. Johnson died at the scene.

Anyone with information related to this incident is asked to contact ISP Investigations at 815-224-1171, ext. 139.