Three Vehicle Crash Involving Two Semi Trucks and an IDOT Pickup
A three-vehicle crash just after 6:30 a.m. closed down both eastbound lanes and one west bound lane of Interstate 74 this morning near the 199 mile marker.
Illinois State Police responded to the crash involving a westbound semi-tractor trailer that traveled through the median and barricade and struck an eastbound semi-tractor trailer and an Illinois Department of Transportation pickup truck.
Crews at the scene are working with crash reconstruction, removal of the vehicles by heavy duty tow equipment, cargo remediation and a small hazardous materials cleanup.
According to sources, an “extreme crosswind during a rainstorm” is being blamed for the three-vehicle accident. Apparently, it started with a 27 year old Dallas, Texas man was driving a westbound semi-tractor truck in the left lane and was passing an uninvolved semi when an extreme crosswind during a rainstorm hit his rig. He turned slightly against the crosswind and went into the median, breaking through the cable barrier and hit two eastbound vehicles head-on. The eastbound vehicles were a Illinois Department of Transportation pickup truck driving by a 47 year man of Philo. The other was a FedEx semi-trailer driven by a 33 year old man of Shelbyville, Indiana. There was also a passenger in the initial truck, a 43 year old man of Seguin, Texas.
Police indicate that all of the men had to be cut out of their respective vehicles and were taken to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana where three of the men were treated and released. The fourth man, the 33 year old man’s injuries are described as serious, but details have not been released.
Semi Truck Accidents in Illinois
Due to the interstates that traverse the state of Illinois such as Interstate 74, Interstate 88, Interstate 55, Interstate 57 and Interstate 80; large scale crashes occur while trucks are taking goods through the Midwest. According to the Illinois Department of Transportation in 2011, there were a total of 10,033 crashes involving tractor trailers. These crashes total for about 3.6 percent of total crashes. Fatal crashes involving tractor-trailers account for 9.7 percent of all fatal crashes. In 2011, 81 of the 10,033 crashes were fatal and 1,750 of the 10,033 involved injuries. Also, in 2011, there were 8,202 of the 10,033 that involved properly damage..
Other vehicle occupants are far more likely to be injured in tractor-trailer crashes, evident in the numbers. Of the 93 fatalities, 74 were fatalities of other vehicle occupants verses the 15 fatalities of the tractor trailer occupants. Regarding injuries, other vehicle occupants injured were 2,010 of the total 2,515 verses 466 of tractor trailer occupants. Whether you are an occupant of a truck or a other vehicle such as a passenger automobile, semi-truck crashes on interstates are usually serious in nature. Injuries from semi-truck crashes can be life changing or can result in fatalities. If you are the victim of a truck accident, finding an expert truck accident attorney is critical in order to get the compensation that you may need for medical bills and future medical needs.
At The Cagle Law Firm, our attorneys understand the regulations required of all commercial transportation companies including driver hiring and training requirements, hours-of-service requirements and the importance of regular maintenance and repair on big rigs. If you have been injured or lost a loved one, we can assist you. Filing a claim in a trucking accident can be complicated because not only may it be against the individual driver, but more often than not, it also involves filing a claim against the transportation company or truck driver’s employer. Trucking accidents frequently become complicated but often times the cause for the crash may be the result of decisions and choices made days, weeks or months before the accident. For example, if a truck is not maintenance properly and the brakes fail, then the crash may be partly caused by the transportation company. Why is that important? It is critical that a thorough investigation follow any truck accident involving accident reconstruction experts and investigation into the events leading up to the crash.
While the investigation will continue into the causes of this mornings crash, it is important to note that each individual truck accident is unique and each has a different fact pattern. At our firm, we aggressively represent the rights of injured victims in personal injury and wrongful death cases. Call toll free (800) 685-3302 or locally (314) 276-1681 for your free consultation today.
