Benjamin Weidel Dies in Fatal Car Crash in Prophetstown, Illinois
On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, at approximately 4:35 p.m., a fatal collision occurred at the intersection of Perkins Road and Mill Road in rural Prophetstown, Illinois. The Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to the incident via an automatic crash notification from an iPhone. According to the preliminary investigation, a 2007 black Ford sedan, driven by 40-year-old Jacob Penaflor of Prophetstown, was traveling south on Perkins Road and failed to stop at the stop sign at the Mill Road intersection. Simultaneously, a 2024 black Chevrolet crossover, driven by 39-year-old Benjamin Weidel of Prophetstown, was proceeding east on Mill Road. Penaflor’s vehicle struck Weidel’s, resulting in Penaflor’s sedan rolling multiple times.
Benjamin Weidel was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash. Jacob Penaflor sustained non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a hospital for treatment. The Whiteside County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit is conducting an ongoing investigation to establish the precise factors contributing to the incident.
