Two men suffered fatal injuries on Wednesday, May 13, during a five-vehicle pile-up on westbound I-74 just five miles north of Galesburg around noon.
The two men, one from Peoria and the other from Milledgeville, were pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Illinois State Police.
According to state police, the driver of a maroon 2013 Peterbuilt semi-truck failed to slow down when approaching the construction zone. The driver rear-ended a white 2006 Mazda driven by one of the victims. The semi-trailer and Mazda skidded off the roadway and into a ditch on the east side, which caused a chain reaction with three other vehicles.
Clifford A Rasmussen, 55, of Minnesota was behind the wheel of the large truck when the collision occurred. Rasmussen along with Daniel M. Langan, of Dunlap, who was part of the chain reaction, were taken to St. Marys for non-life-threatening injuries.
Westbound traffic on I-74 was backed up until approximately 5:30 p.m. as crews worked to clear the area out and investigate the collision.
Construction Zone Accidents
Approximately 1.6 percent of all roadway crashes in 2010 occurred in work zones, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Rear-end crashes attribute for the largest percentage of motor vehicle crashes in construction zones with more than 54 percent occurring during daytime hours.
Speeding is a common factor in work zone accidents as drivers fail to notice reduced speed limits and road changes.
Most road construction accidents are preventable occurrences. If you or someone you love was injured due to another individuals recklessness, you shouldn’t have to pay. The attorneys at GWC Injury Lawyers can help you if you obtain the compensation you deserve for medical bills, lost wages and your pain and suffering.
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