Man Who Died in ER Wednesday Identified as Sparta Resident

Local authorities are investigating the death of a man Wednesday morning.

The Effingham County Coroner's Office was notified by HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham of a death in the emergency room at 8:50am Wednesday. The Coroner's Office responded and found an unidentified white male dead in ER. The man had no identification with him. Initial reports indicated the man was involved in a car crash in Farina and was transported to St. Anthony's.

With the assistance of Farina police and the Fayette County Coroner's Office it was determined the identity of the man was 46-year-old Patrick Lawless. Lawless was from Sparta but recently had been living with various friends in this area.

Preliminary investigation revealed Lawless did not suffer any injuries in the car crash, which was judged minor, that would have resulted in his death. After the crash, Lawless walked a short distance to a friend's house. He later collapsed and his friend phoned 911.

Lawless' family in the Metro East area was contacted and provided what Effingham County Coroner Kim Rhodes termed "crucial medical and background information" to assist in the death investigation. Medical records were requested from Lawless' primary physician. Toxicology samples and X-rays were obtained by the Coroner's Office. Toxicology results are expected in about two to three weeks.

The investigation continues by the Farina Police Department and the Fayette County and Effingham County Coroner's Offices.