John K. Kwiatkowski Identified as Bicyclist Killed in I-74 Crash Near Urbana

On the evening of Sunday, March 16, 2025, a tragic incident unfolded on Interstate 74 near Urbana, Illinois, resulting in the death of 57-year-old John K. Kwiatkowski of Urbana. According to the Champaign County Coroner’s Office, Kwiatkowski was struck by a passenger vehicle while riding his bicycle in the right lane of the eastbound highway near milepost 183 around 7:45 p.m., as reported by the Illinois State Police. He was transported to Carle Hospital’s Emergency Department with life-threatening injuries and was pronounced deceased at 8:06 p.m., just 20 minutes after the collision. The eastbound lanes of I-74 were closed for several hours, reopening at approximately 1 a.m., while authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this fatal crash.

Champaign County Coroner Laurie Brauer has scheduled an autopsy for later this week to further examine the cause of Kwiatkowski’s death, with her office working in conjunction with the Illinois State Police to determine the full details of the incident. While few specifics have been released at this time, officials have confirmed that the crash involved a car striking Kwiatkowski as he biked along the interstate, an unusual and perilous scenario that has left the community awaiting additional updates.