Published: November 01, 2008 11:53 am      

Ashley woman dies in I-57 accident

JEFFERSON COUNTY - An early-morning traffic accident today on I-57 between Bonnie and Ina claimed the life of an Ashley woman.

According to Jefferson County Deputy Coroner Eddie Joe Marks, Cassandra M. Hoffman, 24, of Ashley was pronounced dead at 1:43 a.m. after a vehicle in which she was driving ran off the roadway and crashed into two trees, catching fire.

The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department responded to the scene to discover the vehicle fully engulfed, Marks said.

Marks said Hoffman lost control of the vehicle and rolled down an embankment.

The Jefferson County Coroner's office, JCSD and Illinois State Police are investigating the accident, and Marks said toxicology results are pending.