Rear-end car accident claims life of Illinois driver on I-70

An investigation by the Illinois State Police and a crash reconstruction unit, along with the Fayette County Coroner’s Office is underway after the death of a motorist on a recent Thursday morning. The fatal car accident reportedly occurred not far from St. Elmo on Interstate 70. An accident report indicates that the traffic on the interstate was at a standstill at the time of the crash.

According to the report, a 40-year-old man from Altamont was stopped behind a semi-truck when another vehicle smashed into the rear of his car. The impact apparently jammed his car under the trailer of the big rig, entrapping the driver. Sadly, he was declared dead at the accident scene.

The 22-year-old driver of the van that rear-ended the deceased man’s car and that driver’s 46-year-old passenger were transported to a local hospital. They were both later transferred to another medical facility for treatment of injuries of unknown severity. The driver and passenger in the semi-truck suffered minor injuries that were treated on the accident scene.

The driver who apparently caused this fatal car accident may have to face one — and possibly two — civil lawsuits. The surviving family members of the deceased man will be entitled to file a wrongful death claim against him in an Illinois civil court. Similarly, the injured passenger who was in the van with him may also pursue financial relief for medical and other losses by filing a personal injury claim. In both these cases, negligence will have to be established by appropriate proof before the court will consider the entry of a monetary judgment.

Source: wjbdradio.com, “Fayette County Wreck Claims Life of Altamont Man”, Bruce Kropp, May 26, 2016