Madison County coroner releases ID of Illinois 255 crash victim

A retiree from Granite City died in a single-vehicle crash on Illinois 255.

Melodye R. Fagan, 69, was pronounced deceased at the scene of the crash on Tuesday afternoon, Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn said in a news release.

Fagan retired from Gate Gourmet, formally Dobbs International, after 30 years of service and then retired from the Granite City School District 9 after several years of service, according to her obituary posted by Wojstrom Funeral Home & Crematory - Granite City.

“Melodye loved her family and friends fiercely and she will be greatly missed,” the obituary states.

A “celebration of life” service is set for 1 p.m. Sunday at the Granite City Eagles Aerie 1126.

Illinois State Police officers, along with the coroner’s officer, are investigating the crash.

Fagan was driving a 2009 Ford Escape southbound on Illinois 255 “when her vehicle left the roadway for reasons unknown, traveled down a ditch, up a hill and struck a tree, coming to rest in a field” in the 7000 block of Stutz Lane in Foster Township, Nonn said.

Fagan, who was not wearing a seat belt, died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to preliminary evidence at the scene, the coroner said.