Local News
Coroner’s Jury Rules Brett Shutte’s Death Accidental due to Motor Vehicle Incident
Shelby County Coroner Brian Green convened a Coroner’s Jury on Friday, October 13 to determine the cause of death for Brett J. Shutte.
Shutte, 41, of R. R. # 1 Sigel was standing outside the Last Stand tavern on Illinois Route 45 in Sigel with two other men, Keith Parker and Joseph Wheat smoking a cigarette when the three men were struck by an automobile.
Green called the investigating officer, Illinois State Trooper David Jourdan to the stand. Jourdan testified he was notified of this incident at approximately 9:01 p.m. on September 27, 2009. Jourdan said the weather conditions were not a factor and the road was dry and clear.
“From the investigation we learned a white vehicle went off the road and struck three people went across another road driving along the sidewalk heading north parallel with the road and struck a building and then went back on Route 45 and left the scene,” Jourdan testified.
Jourdan went on to say the driver of the vehicle which struck Shutte was Thomas A. Self. Self was driving a 1999 white Oldsmobile Intrigue which is a passenger car.
Green asked Jourdan why the men were standing outside the bar.
“They were outside the bar smoking because you could not smoke inside,” Jourdan said. “They were on a sidewalk area for pedestrians. They were just standing there, I don’t think they expected a car to come along and hit them.”
Green then asked Jourdan if he had any idea why Self’s vehicle left the road like it did.
Jourdan said he believes the accident was due to the presence of drugs in Self at the time of the accident. Jourdan went on to say the toxicology report showed the presence of cannabis in Self.
Green asked if alcohol was found in the report. Jourdan said by the time Self was tested for alcohol, none showed up.
Green then asked if the investigation indicated at what speed Self was driving. Jourdan said there were no skid marks so the speed could not be determined.
Jourdan said Wheat and Parker were taken to a hospital in Effingham.
Green asked Jourdan if Shutte’s injuries were the worst of the three victims, and Jourdan said Shutte’s injuries were the worst.
“Suffice to say it was a terrific impact, and Mr. Shutte sustained the most injuries,” asked Green. Jourdan said yes.
Jourdan then testified that Self went home where he was living with his girlfriend. The girlfriend called the State Police to tell them her car had been wrecked.
“The investigation would have taken longer if the girlfriend had not called the State Police,” said Jourdan.
Green said Shutte was taken to Springfield where an autopsy was performed. Green then read the list of injuries suffered by Shutte.
“Mr. Shutte sustained horrific injuries, any and all could have resulted in his death,” Green said. “The opinion of the pathologist following the autopsy is that, in her opinion, the cause of death in this 41 year old male, Brett J. Shutte is due to blunt forced injuries received due to a motor vehicle incident.”
The jury retired for deliberations and was out for approximately 20 minutes before returning with their decision. The verdict of the jury was blunt force injuries sustained to the body when struck by a motor vehicle.
“We rule the cause of death is accidental,” said the jury foreman.
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