Sharon Harpster dies in fatal Mattoon nursing home car crash
Fatal Mattoon nursing home car crash death of Sharon Harpster – Obituary
Authorities in Mattoon, Illinois, have confirmed that 82-year-old Sharon Harpster lost her life when a vehicle crashed into the Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home on Friday. The tragic incident also left another woman, aged 86, in critical condition and receiving care at Carle Hospital in Urbana.
The crash occurred at approximately 11:28 a.m. when a Nissan Pathfinder, driven by 54-year-old Curtis Meadows, struck the north side of the facility. According to the Mattoon Police Department, Meadows was arrested around 12:05 p.m. on suspicion of aggravated driving under the influence.
Both women affected by the crash were residents of the nursing home and were inside the same room at the time of the impact. They were reportedly pinned against a wall when the SUV breached the building. Harpster was declared dead at the scene by the Coles County Coroner’s Office.
In a public statement, Odd Fellow-Rebekah Home expressed deep sorrow over the loss, offering condolences to Harpster’s loved ones and confirming that the second resident remains hospitalized. The nursing home praised emergency responders for their rapid and professional actions and emphasized that they are working with local and state agencies to investigate the incident and review safety protocols.
Initial findings suggest that Meadows failed to make a turn at the intersection of Logan Avenue and Lafayette Avenue, instead continuing straight through a field before crashing into the nursing home. He was not injured and was taken to a hospital for evaluation.
The Mattoon Police Department is continuing its investigation into the crash.
