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Thrown Debris Kills Mother and Breast Cancer Survivor

A falling 10 pound piece of granite killed a Champaign resident this morning. The granite was thrown over the overpass by two young men. The rock flew through the front windshield, making direct impact with Sawyer’s head. The car then crashed into a protective railing separating oncoming traffic on I-74. Sawyer was immediately rushed to Carle Foundation Hospital, only to be pronounced DOA. Her mother was also in the car. She was taken to the hospital with less severe injuries.

This is not the first time someone has died due to debris thrown over the overpass. That is why Sawyer’s relatives were outraged when they heard the news. They conducted a news conference at the hospital, calling for fences to be put up around overpasses in the area. Her two sisters, Felicity Shrove and Donna Taylor, issued this statement at the hospital: “It could have been any one of us or any of our kids. We hope that steps can be taken to prevent this from happening to anyone else.”

Sawyer is a mother to three children. All of them being under ten years old, they now have no mother at such a young age. Emily Sawyer was also a breast cancer survivor. She underwent a lumpectomy and chemotherapy two years ago. Her mother was always by her in these hard times. Her relationship grew with her mother after her father passed away four years ago. Sawyer made a tradition of taking her mother to Holy Family Catholic Church in Danville every Saturday morning and then shopping and having lunch together on Marketplace Mall on the way back. This is where the two were headed this morning. The tradition was cut short by the fallen debris. Police are still trying to uncover more about how the incident occurred.

Anyone with information about the accident can call Champaign County Crimestoppers at (217) 373-TIPS.

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