Inquest regarding Eastern student’s death postponed

More details behind the one-car accident that killed Eastern student Sheila Sue Henson last June will be released at an inquest postponed until September.

Originally scheduled for August, the preliminary inquest for Henson has been tentatively set for September 11.

Champaign County Deputy Coroner Duane Northup said “traumatic head injuries” are listed as the cause of death, but further details such as toxicology results will not be released until the inquest.

Henson was pronounced dead at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana June 22, the morning after the accident.

Both she and the driver were taken to Sarah Bush Lincoln Health Center following the 10:05 p.m. accident. Ms. Henson was then air-lifted to Carle.

She was the only passenger in the vehicle when its driver, Trisia A. Jones, lost control going westbound on Route 316, leading the car off the roadway where it struck a tree.

Jones is facing criminal charges for the accident.

Assistant State’s Attorney Duane Deters said the case is still in review.

“Nothing has been filed,” he said. “I am waiting on more police reports and other documents.”

Rumors of alcohol and cocaine intoxication have not been verified by officials and will not be available until police documents or inquest results are released.

Henson is survived by her parents, Brenda Colman and Dan McGrew and children; Kasandra Sue Henson, Kaleb Lee Kuhlman and Kodie Kristopher Henson.

She was an undergraduate Family and Consumer Sciences major.

City editor Carly Mullady can be reached at [email protected]