Although winter weather is upon us, construction activities are still going on around Illinois, including projects on the interstate. While some people may get frustrated with the seemingly never-ending roadwork they encounter every day, it is important that motorists drive safely in construction zones. The failure to do so could lead to a catastrophic event, as one recent crash shows.
A recent truck accident on Interstate 55 involving multiple vehicles has claimed the life of a fourth individual. She died in the hospital after suffering critical injuries in the collision. The collision took place when a semi-truck being operated by a man, age 53, hit seven vehicles. The semi-truck was traveling at highway speed in a construction zone, where the other vehicles had either slowed down or were stopped. The fourth victim was a passenger in a car with two other women who were sisters. Those women also perished in the accident. Another woman involved in the crash passed away on Thanksgiving. In addition, 10 other individuals suffered injuries due to the collision. All in all, the semi-truck collided with seven other motorists.
The fourth victim had graduated from college this year and was had her sights on going to law school. She was much loved by her community, as were the other three victims. Illinois State Police are still investigating the incident.
This very tragic accident highlights how important it is to drive with due care in construction zones, especially on the interstate. While most people want to travel at freeway speeds, in construction zones drivers must slow down, even if it means going under the posted speed limit. While this can be frustrating for those who are in a hurry to get to their destinations, it is better to drive as slow as is necessary and reach your destination safely, than to become involved in an accident. If a person in Illinois is injured in a car crash in a construction zone, he or she may want to determine if it is advisable to pursue a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party.
Source: Belleville News-Democrat, “Fourth person dies from injuries after I-55 pileup with semi,” Dana Rieck, Mary Cooley, Kaley Johnson and Elizabeth Donald, Dec. 1, 2017