Driver Cited In Deadly Manhattan Crash

MANHATTAN, IL — Two Manhattan men are dead following a Saturday morning crash near the intersection of Cedar and Baker roads, the Will County Coroner's office said.

The coroner's office said both men, identified as James M. Kopec, 52, and Clifford Sales, 47, were driving at the time of the crash.

Kopec was driving a 2016 Toyota Prius, and Sales was driving a 2018 Ford Escape, according to information provided by Will County Sheriff Department. Both vehicles suffered heavy front-end damage.

Both men were taken to the Silver Cross Hospital emergency room, where Kopec was pronounced dead at 9:43 a.m. and Sales was pronounced dead at 9:51 a.m. Both had suffered multiple injuries, the coroner's office said.

Initial reports from WCSD indicated that Benjamin Razo, 35, of Bradley, was driving a 2021 Chevy Silverado heading west on Baker and came to a stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Cedar Road. Razo stated to deputies that after he stopped he began driving into the intersection and observed the Prius heading towards him. Razo said he believed he had enough time to cross the intersection but stopped when he realized he did not. Kopec, in the northbound Prius, then swerved to miss Razo and struck the southbound Escape, driven by Sales, head-on.

Razo was later cited for failure to yield at a stop sign intersection.