Galena, IL – A tragic traffic accident claimed the life of a Wisconsin man on October 23, 2025, at approximately 8:17 PM on US Route 20, about 0.2 miles northwest of Oldenburg Lane in Galena, Illinois.

According to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office, the incident involved a collision between a silver Chrysler PT Cruiser, operated by 64-year-old Aleksandr Avanesov of Wisconsin, and a green Rivian R1T, driven by 42-year-old Patrick Jung of Illinois, with 21-year-old Rhea Jung of Galena, Illinois, as a passenger.

Preliminary investigations indicate that Avanesov was traveling westbound on US Route 20 when his vehicle crossed the center line into the eastbound lane, striking the Jung vehicle head-on. The Chrysler PT Cruiser sustained significant front-end and driver-side damage and came to rest in a ditch on the east side of the highway. The Rivian R1T, operated by Patrick Jung, was left blocking both lanes of traffic.

Deputies from the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 call received by the Jo Daviess County dispatch center and were assisted by the Galena Police Department, Galena Fire Department, Galena EMS, and Hazel Green Fire Department. Patrick and Rhea Jung were evaluated by Galena EMS at the scene and declined further medical treatment. Avanesov was transported by Galena EMS to Midwest Medical Center in Galena, where he was later pronounced deceased.

The crash remains under investigation by the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Office and the Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit. No arrests have been reported in connection with the incident.