MOUNT CARMEL, IL — The Bellmont community and Wabash County residents are mourning the tragic passing of 26-year-old Ryan D. Haught, who lost his life Friday evening, October 9, 2026, following a severe collision involving an electric bicycle and a passenger vehicle near Mount Carmel.
According to preliminary investigative findings released by Illinois State Police Troop 9 and Wabash County Coroner Shaun Keepes, emergency personnel responded at approximately 7:08 p.m. to the intersection of Illinois Route 1 and County Road 1120 North.
At just 26, Ryan’s life ended at an age when so much of the future can still lie ahead. His sudden passing is a heartbreaking reminder of how quickly circumstances can change and how deeply a life lost can affect those left behind.
Behind the brief details of a fatal crash is a human life—one that mattered beyond the circumstances of its final moments. Although details about Ryan’s personal life have not been publicly shared in the information available, his death deserves to be acknowledged with dignity and compassion.
Emergency responders, including Illinois State Police, the Mount Carmel Fire Department, emergency medical services, WEMA, and the Wabash County Sheriff’s Department, responded to the scene.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision. An autopsy was scheduled for October 12, 2026, as part of the process of examining the circumstances of Ryan’s death.
As the investigation continues, the loss of Ryan D. Haught serves as a solemn reminder to cherish the people in our lives and the time we share with them. May his memory be treated with respect, and may his family, friends, and loved ones find comfort and strength as they navigate this painful loss.
