SMITHTON, Ill. — A tight-knit community in East St. Louis is grieving tonight after 34-year-old Estelle Stamps lost her life in a violent two-vehicle crash Wednesday around 10:22 p.m. along Illinois Route 159 just north of Douglas Road, according to the Illinois State Police.
Stamps, a resident of the 600 block of South 42nd Street in East St. Louis, was pronounced dead at the scene. The St. Clair County Coroner’s Office confirmed her identity and confirmed there were no survivors for her.
Another individual was also involved in the crash and was transported by ambulance to a nearby hospital with injuries. Their condition has not been made public, as authorities continue to withhold additional details.
Local dispatch reports — later confirmed by responding agencies including the Smithton Fire Department, local EMS crews, and the St. Clair County Sheriff’s Department — say one of the vehicles may have caught fire, and there was a “possible ejection” of a person during the crash. The seriousness of the accident forced the closure of that stretch of Illinois 159 for roughly three hours while accident reconstruction teams from ISP combed the scene for evidence.
At this time, the cause of the crash has not been released. Investigators with ISP are currently reviewing all available data — including vehicle positions, roadway conditions, and potential witness statements — to determine what led to the collision.
Friends and neighbours who knew Estelle speak of her with heartache and quiet reverence. They remember a woman whose kindness felt genuine, whose laughter could brighten a room, and whose compassion touched everyone fortunate enough to cross her path. She was the kind of person who made people feel seen — generous with her time, always ready to lend an ear, always willing to help. Her sudden, tragic loss has left an emptiness across her community.
In the hours since the news spread, people have begun gathering — neighbours, friends, and strangers alike — drawn together by sorrow and solidarity. They share memories, sorrow, and support, offering solace to the family and each other while trying to process the unbearable reality.
Though her life ended too soon, those who loved Estelle cling to the light she left behind — a legacy of warmth, empathy, and human kindness that refuses to fade.
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