DECATUR, IL — A Friday afternoon crash on Danville Road turned fatal when 93-year-old Theodore G. Thom, Jr.’s PT Cruiser crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a Toyota Corolla near Ashley Drive. The Decatur Police Department confirmed the lifelong resident succumbed to his injuries at the scene, while two occupants in the other vehicle survived with non-life-threatening injuries.
The violent impact left both vehicles with catastrophic front-end damage, requiring first responders to use extrication tools to free the injured parties. Witnesses described Thom’s car making an abrupt swerve into oncoming traffic moments before the collision. “It happened so fast—one second he was in his lane, the next he was barreling toward them,” said nearby shop owner Marcus Reed, who rushed to assist before paramedics arrived.
Investigators are exploring multiple potential causes for Thom’s sudden lane departure, including possible medical emergencies or age-related driving impairments. The nonagenarian had a valid Illinois driver’s license with no recent citations, though state records show drivers over 75 must renew annually with a vision test. Toxicology reports are pending, though officers noted no immediate signs of impairment at the scene.
The surviving victims—identified as a 34-year-old mother and her teenage daughter—were transported to Decatur Memorial Hospital with broken bones and lacerations. Family members confirm both are expected to recover after surgeries. Meanwhile, Thom’s neighbors remember the WWII-era veteran as an active community member who still tended his rose garden daily.
This tragedy has reignited discussions about elderly driving assessments in Illinois, one of 31 states with additional requirements for senior drivers. Local advocacy groups are distributing free ride service vouchers to seniors as police complete their reconstruction of the crash. A memorial service for Thom will be held Wednesday at First Presbyterian Church, where he served as deacon for 40 years.
