Modoc man killed when he stopped to help at accident

Roger Muertz

A local man was killed when he stopped to be a good Samaritan and offer help at an accident earlier this week.

The Illinois State Police reported that a one vehicle accident took place on Sunday, July 11 around 11:06 p.m. on Bluff Road near Roscow Hollow Road, between Modoc and Prairie du Rocher.

As of press time, they had not released information on the driver or the vehicle, but did state the vehicle was traveling north on Bluff Road when it left the roadway to the right and rolled over several times. The vehicle came to rest on its driver side after striking a utility pole.

Randolph County Coroner Carlos Barbour reported that Roger Muertz, 57, of Modoc, came upon the accident and stopped to see if anyone needed help. Unfortunately, Muertz came into contact with a downed power transmission line and was electrocuted. 

Barbour noted that Muertz was pronounced deceased at the scene on July 12.

For more on this accident, please see this week’s print edition.