Hull, Illinois man found dead after search

PIKE COUNTY, ILLINOIS – Just after 5 p.m. Sunday, the body of Ronald Abney, 82, of Hull, was located in a creek bed approximately two miles south of Atlas on State Highway 96 in Pike County, Illinois.

The Pike County Sheriff’s Department said it appeared that the vehicle Abney was operating left the roadway sometime Friday afternoon, where it crashed into the creek bed. 

A search was conducted for Abney following the report of him being missing on Friday evening when he didn’t return home. Abney’s family along with first responders, neighbors and members of the Pike County community searched the areas where Abney was thought to have possibly been, including air searches. 

Video surveillance of Abney’s vehicle was observed near Hardin and again in Pleasant Hill Friday afternoon, which assisted in narrowing the area where Abney may have been. 

The Illinois State Police is handling the vehicle crash investigation.