Driver hit another vehicle just north of Douglas Road in Smithton
December 03, 2025 | Smithton, IL
Estelle Stamps, a 34-year-old resident of East St. Louis, died in a two-vehicle crash late Wednesday along Illinois Route 159 north of Douglas Road in Smithton.
Estelle Stamps, 34, of East St. Louis died in a two-vehicle crash on Illinois 159 just north of Douglas Road in Smithton.
What Happened in the Crash?
Authorities identified Estelle Stamps as the victim, who was pronounced dead at the scene around 10:22 p.m. on Dec. 3.
- Date and Time: Dec. 3, 2025, approximately 10:22 p.m.
- Location: Illinois Route 159, north of Douglas Road, Smithton, Illinois
- Vehicles Involved: Two vehicles
- Injuries: One fatality, Estelle Stamps, and one person transported to a local hospital with unspecified injuries
- Investigating Agency: Illinois State Police
The Illinois State Police are investigating the circumstances leading to the collision.
Why Do These Accidents Happen?
Factors such as road conditions, visibility, and lighting often play a role in motor vehicle crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the U.S. saw 33,654 fatal crashes in 2018, resulting in 36,560 deaths—or 11.2 deaths per 100,000 people and 1.13 deaths per 100 million miles traveled.
Year |
Fatal Crashes |
Total Deaths |
Deaths per 100,000 People |
Deaths per 100 Million Miles Traveled |
|---|
2018 |
33,654 |
36,560 |
11.2 |
1.13 |
Data sourced from NHTSA CrashStats.
Legal Insights
In cases such as this, thorough examinations are essential to understand contributing factors.
“Road conditions, visibility, and lighting are all possible contributing factors that are considered and must thoroughly be examined,” said Candice Bond, managing partner with Bond Legal.
“An accident reconstruction team is sometimes needed to help piece together what happened. All of these resources are necessary for helping clients receive monetary compensation for damages or a loss following a collision,” said Bond.
Key takeaways:
- Investigations often involve reconstructing events to identify causes.
- Families may pursue claims for compensation after tragic losses.
- Legal support ensures rights are protected during official investigations.
Families affected by wrongful death in accidents like this may seek damages for loss of companionship, pain and suffering, and emotional distress.
“The stress and sorrow can be extremely overwhelming after losing a loved one in an accident,” said Stefano Formica, of counsel at Bond Legal.
“We understand just what families are forced to go through, and having their rights protected is vital. A wrongful death lawyer will stay updated on the official investigation and help ensure that their legal rights and best interests are protected," said Formica.
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If you or a family member has been affected by a similar incident, national legal analyst Candice Bond is available for a free consultation. Use the contact information provided on this page.
(Candice Bond, our national legal analyst, is a Managing Partner at Bond Legal. Newsline can and does use quotes from prior interviews with our analysts for our news articles. If you would like to contact Bond Legal to help you, please call 866-985-6515 or use the submission box found on this page. Legal analysts quoted may or may not be licensed in your state).