One person has been killed and two others have been injured in a wrong-way Route 126 crash in southwest suburban Plainfield, IL.
“Heavy Extrication” Needed in Route 126 Crash
The fatal Route 126 crash reportedly occurred at 9:08 p.m. on February 13, 2020. According to a preliminary investigation by the Plainfield Police Department, a 37-year-old driver had been operating a Toyota Camry east on Route 126 away from Meadow Lane when he lost control of the vehicle.
The Toyota then entered the westbound lanes of traffic and was struck on the passenger side by a BMW X5. The force of the Route 126 crash was so great that emergency responders needed to use heavy extrication to free the victims.
The passenger of the Toyota was identified as 35-year-old Sarah Cruz of Spring Valley. The Will County Coroner’s Office pronounced Ms. Cruz dead at the scene.
The Toyota’s driver reportedly sustained life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to Downers Grove’s Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in critical condition. The 58-year-old female driver of the BMW was taken to Rush-Copley Hospital in Aurora in stable condition for non-life-threatening injuries.
Authorities investigating the Route 126 crash closed down the highway between Meadow Lane and Indian Boundary until around 3:00 a.m.
Wrong-Way Accidents Have Higher Fatality Rates
The tragic death of Sarah Cruz in the Route 126 crash is an unfortunate reminder of the seriousness of wrong-way accidents, in which vehicles collide with each other while traveling in opposite directs. While these kinds of incidents are relatively rare, accounting for approximately three percent of all collisions, they have higher fatality rates than other types of traffic crashes because of the heightened force of impact.
Each year, an average of 355 people are killed in the United States because of vehicles moving in the wrong direction, with an average of 1.34 deaths for every fatal wrong-way accident. This represents an increase of nearly 22 percent in the rate of fatality, compared to an average of 1.10 deaths for other lethal crashes.
Have You or a Loved One Been Hurt in a Traffic Accident?
At GWC Injury Lawyers LLC, we know all too well how quickly a major traffic accident can turn everything upside down. For more than four decades, our dedicated car accident attorneys have helped thousands of clients navigate their worst moments and fought successfully to get them the justice they deserve.
GWC is one of the leading Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation law firms in Illinois, with over $2 billion recovered in verdicts and settlements – life-changing money for life-changing events. We are proud of our record of success, and we would be honored to work just as hard for you and your loved ones if you have also been seriously hurt in a traffic accident.
To schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our Burr Ridge car accident lawyers, contact GWC today. You may call our office at (312) 464-1234 or click here to chat with a representative at any time.
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