Kennedie L. Vote, 19, a Northwoods Community Church Student Ministry Program member, died May 12 in a three-vehicle accident on Illinois Route 116. She went on a mission trip to the Dominican Republic in 2017. (Photo from
Kennedie Vote Facebook)

A Germantown Hills teen bound for a life in Christian ministry died May 12 in a three-vehicle accident on Illinois Route 116.

Kennedie L. Vote, 19, a 2017 graduate of Metamora Township High School, was pronounced dead at the scene, shortly after 3:45 p.m. on that Saturday, according to Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman.

Rebecca Gorman, 18, of Washington, was traveling east on Rte. 116 when she lost control of her black Ford pickup truck at North Byerly Hills Drive. Her truck struck the median guardrail before entering westbound lane, into the path of Vote’s Honda sedan.

Crash debris also struck a Honda van driven by Dawn Morris, 47, of East Peoria. Morris was treated at a local hospital for minor injuries.

Gorman was issued a ticket for improper lane usage.

All westbound lanes were closed for several hours following the accident. An investigation continues with the Illinois State Police.

A 2017 graduate of Metamora Community High School, Vote traveled to the Dominican Republic as a Student Ministries intern for Northwoods Community Church a month after she graduated.

Of the trip, Vote wrote on her Facebook, “This past week in a foreign country has been scary but amazing … God has blessed me in amazing ways. Praying for all the people I have met and grown with. I miss everything already and it will be a long hard wait until I go back next summer.”

After attending Illinois Central College, Vote was planning to attend Hillsong International Leadership College for Ministry. Funeral services were May 17.

Her family has requested memorials be made to the Northwoods Community Church Student Intern Fund.

—  Metamora grad devoted to ministry dies in crash —-