One person was killed in a fiery multi-vehicle collision on Monday July 25 on I-55, according to Illinois law enforcement.
The crash occurred just before 11 a.m. when a tractor trailer transporting 40,000 pounds of frozen meat rear ended a stopped pickup truck. The force of the collision sent the pickup into a minivan, propelling it underneath the trailer of another semi carrying 17,800 pounds of paint. The semi hauling paint exploded in flames.
The 44-year-old driver of the minivan was killed in the fire and pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. One more person in stable condition was taken to a nearby hospital but it is unclear which vehicle they were riding in.
Initially, Illinois State Police believed at least two vehicles were involved in the collision but a third vehicle was later found in the aftermath with a deceased person inside.
The driver of the meat carrying semi, received citations by authorities for following too closely to the vehicle in front of him and for failure to reduce speed to prevent a collision.
The highway was shut down for many hours. Center inbound and right lanes opened again at 2 p.m. while outer inbound lanes were reopened after 4 p.m. Outbound lanes remained closed at 7 p.m. when law enforcement stated that they would not reopen until a few hours later due to the active investigation and required cleanup. Smoke could be seen for miles around.
Have you been injured in a car crash with a negligent driver or lost a loved one in a fatal collision? If so, contact our skilled auto accident attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers to schedule your free case review. Our Chicago truck accident attorneys are available to help determine if you may be entitled to compensation for your pain and suffering.
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