Jonathan Wesley Butler

WOOD RIVER - A 17-year-old athlete from Wood River died early Friday when his sports utility vehicle crashed into a utility pole on East Rock Hill Road.

Jonathan Wesley Butler, of 228 Whitelaw Ave., lost control of his 2001 Ford Explorer about 1 a.m. in Wood River, Madison County Coroner Steve Nonn said today.

Butler was a junior at East Alton-Wood River Community High School, a midfielder on the school's soccer team and a third baseman on the baseball team. He also was a finalist in a recent computer-aided drafting competition.

"It's a tragedy the whole team is feeling today," said baseball coach Phil Keasler. "He was a nice young man, always gave me 100 percent. He'll be sorely missed by his team."

Keasler said the baseball team had planned to keep its date to play Piasa's Southwestern High School on Friday afternoon.

Soccer coach Matt Hearndon said Butler had "a good work ethic" and enthusiasm.

"He was one of those kids who loved to play soccer, lived for soccer," Hearndon said. "He was a nice kid."

Butler was the son of Joe and Tina Butler of Wood River.

The crash occurred at Rock Hill and Edwardsville roads.

Butler was not wearing a seat belt, Nonn said. He was thrown from the car and into a nearby yard on Edwardsville Road.

Butler is believed to have died of head injuries, but an autopsy will be performed, Nonn said. The results of routine drug and alcohol blood tests will take about 10 weeks, and will be released at a coroner's inquest.

Services for Butler are planned for 11 a.m. Tuesday at Mark's Mortuary in Wood River. The family will receive friends from 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at the mortuary.

Burial on Tuesday will be in Roselawn Memory Gardens in Bethalto.

Besides his parents, Butler is survived by two sisters, Crystal L. Butler of Waco, Tex. and Britteny R. Butler of Wood River, and a brother, Michael "Shane" Butler of Wood River.

The family has requested memorial donations be made to Jonathan Butler at Altonized Community Federal Credit Union of Alton.