A fatal crash occurred just before 9 p.m. Friday on Ames Road near South Fork Road in Monroe County near Red Bud.

Initial reports from the scene are a male driving a pickup truck was rushing to provide assistance at a previous crash that had happened a few minutes earlier at Route 3 and Ames Road when this more serious crash occurred. The truck was spotted several feet off the roadway in a field.

The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department, Monroe County EMS and Red Bud Fire Department handled the fatal crash.

On Saturday morning, Monroe County Coroner Vicki Koerber released the name of the victim as William J. Branson, 52, of Red Bud. He was ejected from the vehicle in the crash.

Visitation for Branson is set for 4 to 8 p.m. Monday at Quernheim Funeral Home in Waterloo, and 9 a.m. until time of service Tuesday at St. John United Church of Christ, Maeystown.

Funeral services take place 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church. Burial will be at St. John Cemetery, Valmeyer.

Surviving relatives include Branson’s wife, Paula, and children Jenna Heidenreich, Adam Vogt and Travis Branson.