UPDATE: 6/10 @ 4:27 a.m.
CARMI – The names of two individuals who died in a fatal crash Monday in Carmi have been released.
According to a release from the Carmi Police Department, Carmi residents 29-year-old James I. Grant and 21-year-old Brandon L. Rhodes were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
ORIGINAL STORY: 6/9 @ 7:52 a.m.
Carmi Police responded to a fatal traffic crash at 5th and Fackney St. around 9:30 p.m. Monday.
According to Carmi Police Chief Jason Carter, officers found a wrecked black 2006 Pontiac G6 in the intersection of the two streets with two men inside the vehicle. The men were pronounced dead at the scene.
The driver was identified as a 29-year-old man and the passenger as a 21-year-old man, both from Carmi. Their names were not released.
Carter said it appeared the car was traveling south at an extremely high rate of speed on 5th Street when witnesses said the car did not slow down for the stop sign at 5th and Sycamore and continued south before leaving the roadway on the west side and striking a large tree at 5th and Fackney.
Witnesses said it appeared the car was torn apart with the motor, tire and debris being thrown through a fence at a home located at 515 5th St.
Evidence collected at the scene indicates that alcohol could have contributed to the accident.
The roadways were shut down until 1:45 Tuesday morning.
Carmi Police were assisted by the White County Sheriff’s Office, Carmi Police Auxiliary, White County Ambulance Service, White County Coroner’s Office, Carmi Fire Department and Cherry St. Auto.