Randolph County, IL — January 29, 2025, Nathan Frischkorn was killed following a car accident that occurred at around 11:50 P.M. on Blackjack Rd.

An investigation is underway following a car accident that left one person dead during the late night hours of January 29th. According to official reports, a vehicle driven by Nathan Frischkorn was traveling on Blackjack Road when for unknown reasons it lost control and struck a tree before then catching fire.

When first responders arrived on the scene they found that Frischkorn was without signs of life and pronounced deceased. Few other details of the crash have been made public, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released by officials in the future.

Commentary

When a crash results in the loss of life, the immediate priority is ensuring that authorities conduct a thorough investigation to determine what happened. While official reports indicate that the vehicle lost control before striking a tree and catching fire, the key question is why. Too often, fatal single-vehicle crashes are assumed to be the result of driver error, but experience has shown that the full story is often more complex. That’s why it’s critical to ask three key questions in any crash investigation.

The first question is whether authorities have conducted a thorough investigation of the crash. Law enforcement officers typically document physical evidence, reconstruct the accident, and may seek witness statements, but the depth of these investigations can vary. When a vehicle leaves the roadway, investigators should consider all possible causes—was there an obstruction in the road? Did another vehicle force the driver to take evasive action? Were road conditions a factor? Without a detailed review of all available evidence, important details may go unexamined.

The second question is whether anyone has considered the possibility of a vehicle defect. A sudden loss of control can sometimes be the result of mechanical failure rather than driver input. Brake malfunctions, steering defects, or electronic throttle issues have all been known to cause unexplained crashes. Additionally, given that the vehicle caught fire, it’s worth asking whether a fuel system or electrical defect contributed to the blaze. Unfortunately, if the vehicle is quickly disposed of, the opportunity for a forensic examination is lost, potentially leaving critical questions unanswered.

The third key question is whether all electronic data related to the crash has been collected. Modern vehicles are equipped with an electronic control module (ECM), which can provide critical insight into what happened in the moments before impact, such as vehicle speed, braking, and steering input. Additionally, nearby surveillance footage or even cell phone data could shed light on factors leading up to the crash. This kind of evidence is often overlooked, but securing it early can be crucial to fully understanding the circumstances of the wreck.

At the end of the day, determining why this crash happened isn’t just about finding answers—it’s about ensuring that all possible factors have been explored. When a serious crash claims a life, those left behind deserve to know that every effort was made to uncover the truth. The least we can do as a community is to make sure no stone is left unturned in the search for answers.