Two dead after semi crashes into Little Wabash River

WHITE COUNTY - Two Mississippi men died on Saturday when the semitrailer they were driving crashed into the Little Wabash River and became submerged.

According to a news release from Illinois State Police District 19, Michael C. Goffinet, 48, of Gulfport, Mississippi was westbound on Interstate 64 in rural White County when the 2016 International semi he was driving left the south side of the roadway for unknown reasons. The semi left the interstate at about the 124-mile post.

The semi drove into the center median and then into the Little Wabash River, where it became submerged, according to the news release.

Goffinet's passenger was Charles A Boggs, 36, of Petal, Mississippi.

The White County Coroner's Office recovered the bodies of both men and pronounced them deceased, according to the news release.

The crash remains under investigation by ISP, which is using an ISP traffic crash reconstruction unit officer and ISP commercial vehicle enforcement officer.

ISP was assisted at the crash scene by Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, White County Sheriff's Department, White County Coroner's Office, Little Wabash Fire Protection District, Fairfield Rural Fire Search and Recovery, Wayne County Ambulance Service, and Rick's Towing Service.