Loda man, reported missing, found dead under crashed pickup truck

Ford County authorities say foul play is not suspected in the death of a Loda man was found dead under his crashed pickup truck. 47-year-old Daniel Starkey was reported missing Monday, after he was last seen by friends in a tavern in Champaign County.

Sheriff’s Police report a passerby discovered the crashed truck at Ford County Road 2600E, near Clarence. The truck was found (Wednesday), three days after Starkey was seen at the tavern in Penfield.

Starkey had been ejected from the vehicle and was pinned underneath the truck in a drainage ditch. He was pronounced dead at the scene by Ford County Coroner Rick Flessner.

Police said it appeared the truck was northbound when it left the road to the west, striking and damaging a bridge guard rail. The truck then entered an approximately 20-foot-deep ditch, impacting the embankment.

An investigation into the crash is in-complete.

94.1 WGFA