A Pleasant Plains man has been arrested in connection with a fatal hit-and-run that claimed the life of a New Berlin woman on Interstate 72.
The Illinois State Police (ISP) Division of Criminal Investigation announced the arrest of 65-year-old Robert W. Butcher for Leaving the Scene of a Fatal Traffic Crash, a Class 1 felony. Butcher was taken into custody on March 24 and transported to the Sangamon County Jail.
The investigation began late on March 22 when a New Berlin police officer discovered a female pedestrian who had been struck by a vehicle near milepost 82.5 on I-72. ISP officers responded and identified the victim as 35-year-old Maysa Davis of New Berlin. She was transported to an area hospital, where she was pronounced deceased.
An autopsy confirmed Davis died from multiple blunt force injuries consistent with a pedestrian-vehicle collision. Authorities determined the vehicle that struck her had fled the scene before officers arrived. After an extensive investigation, ISP special agents identified Butcher as the driver.
The investigation remains ongoing, and no further details have been released at this time.