Four Hospitalized After Boat Crash In Utica

A morning on the Illinois River turned into a trip to the hospital for four men fishing near Starved Rock State Park.  The man controlling the fishing boat apparently lost control and hit the north shore and a group of trees just before 8:30am Tuesday according to Conservation Police Sgt. Hank Frazier.

The men, all from Chicago, were boating near the Route 178 bridge when it happened.  Local river rescue crews and paramedics went out to the river to help them.  The men were taken to the Illinois Valley Community Hospital in Peru.

One man, Eddie Lee Gardner was taken to St. Francis Medical Center in Peoria where he was listed in serious condition Tuesday afternoon.  The others were treated and released from IVCH.

The man operating the boat, 81 year old Albert Alexander, hasn’t been ticketed but Frazier says the crash is still being investigated.