Driver dies in multi-car accident after power lines fall

A 59-year-old woman tragically lost her life in a recent accident that followed moments after another driver knocked down a power line. The Illinois State Police indicated that the initial car accident may have been the result of excessive speed. The multi-vehicle accident occurred on Route 154 on a recent Sunday.

Accident reports indicate that a 23-year-old westbound driver went off the roadway after losing control of her vehicle. The vehicle apparently knocked down a utility pole after striking a railroad sign. Both the driver and her passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The driver was reportedly cited for improper lane usage as well as driving on a suspended driver’s license. The power lines apparently fell across the road and caused an obstacle in the eastbound lanes.

A 59-year-old eastbound driver collided with the power lines, and her vehicle rolled over before sliding toward the westbound traffic lane. It was then struck by a tractor trailer driven by a 21-year-old man. This collision pushed the car back toward the eastbound lane and into the path of a vehicle driven by a 74-year-old man. The eastbound driver who first struck the power lines was the only injured person, and sadly, her injuries were fatal. She was declared dead at the accident scene.

Determining negligence by any party in a multi-vehicle accident such as this one commonly requires a thorough investigation, often including a reconstruction of the car accident by trained specialists. If the gathered evidence suggests negligence by another party to the accident, the surviving family of the deceased driver may opt to pursue a claim for compensation for end-of-life expenses and other documented financial losses. Obtaining such compensation requires successful presentation of a wrongful death claim in an Illinois civil court.

Source: randolphcountyheraldtribune.com, “Baldwin woman fatally injured in chain-reaction crash”, July 6, 2015