Update: Double fatal crash ruled suicide

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DIXON – A coroner’s inquest Thursday concluded that an Amboy man who died in a double-fatality wreck in November intentionally crashed his pickup truck to commit suicide.

Police said John L. Zimmerly, 27, of Amboy, was northbound on State Route 52 about 3 miles south of Amboy when he crashed his vehicle on Nov. 7. His pickup entered the oncoming lane and struck a car driven by Catherine A. Lovgren, 54, of LaMoille, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Department.

Lovgren and Zimmerly both were killed.

A five-person jury at Thursday’s inquest unanimously agreed the wreck was suicidal on Zimmerly’s part because of a series of text messages to his girlfriend, Jodie Martinez of Amboy, that were sent before the crash.

Lee County Coroner Jesse Partington said a handwritten note Zimmerly left at his home also influenced the jury’s decision. Partington said the note was like a will.

“I think he was just basically leaving his possessions is what I read into it,” Partington said.

Partington said drugs or alcohol were not in Zimmerly’s system at the time of the crash.

Lovgren’s grandchildren, Leanna G. Martin, 13, Cassandra D. Martin, 8, and Anthony C. Lovgren, 13 were injured in the crash.

Leanna G. Martin suffered life-threatening injuries, and the two others were seriously injured, according a media statement from the Lee County Sheriff’s Department. All three were hospitalized but have since been released.