Illinois car accident leaves 2 dead, 2 critically injured

Drivers are expected to drive in a responsible and observant manner that does not endanger the lives of their passengers or others using Illinois roadways. They must be vigilant when they approach busy intersections. It is not uncommon for a car accident to result from a driver’s failure to keep a proper lookout while traveling on Illinois roads.

The Illinois State Police, along with the Sheriff’s Department from Knox County, are investigating a car accident that occurred on a recent Tuesday afternoon. The cause and details of the incident have not been made available, and the media report makes no mention of criminal charges. Among other factors, investigators will have to determine whether drugs or alcohol may have played a role, or whether one of the drivers disregarded a traffic device at the intersection where the cars collided. It was reported that the intersection has a stop sign for vehicles heading in a north-south direction, while no sign exists for those traveling in an east-west direction. 

According to the police, both vehicles came to rest in an adjacent corn field. Each car was reportedly occupied by a driver and a passenger. Both passengers apparently died at the site of the accident, while both drivers were hospitalized. They were taken to separate hospitals, and their conditions were characterized as fair and stable, respectively.

It is not known what the outcome of the official investigation will be, and whether one or both drivers will be determined to have been at fault in the car accident. Once more information becomes available, the surviving family members of the two deceased passengers will be entitled to pursue claims for financial relief concerning end-of-life expenses and other monetary losses by filing wrongful death claims against any party or parties deemed responsible for the fatal accident.  At that time, one or both of the injured drivers may elect to file a personal injury claim against the other driver in an Illinois civil court, based upon evidence of negligence by the other party that is deemed to have caused or materially contributed to the accident.

Source: pjstar.com, “Victims of double-fatal Knox County crash identified“, Feb. 11, 2015