Riley Schreck Killed In Madison County Dump Truck Accident On Interstate 70

Truck Accident - October 14, 2021

Riley Schreck of Troy Died In Dump Truck Crash On I-70 By Milepost 16.8 In Madison County

MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS (October 14, 2021) – A 20-year-old woman from Troy identified as Riley Schreck has tragically died in a dump truck accident on Interstate 70 not far from Milepost 16.8.

Illinois State Police are saying that the collision took place just after 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. A tractor-trailer dump truck pulled across westbound lanes of traffic when it was hit by a Volkswagen Jetta driven by Riley Schreck.

The tractor-trailer dump truck driver was moving across the westbound lanes of traffic so that they could pull into a construction zone. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help Riley Schreck.

She was rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Despite the life-saving measures of nurses and doctors, she died due to her injuries. Madison County police officials closed the highway for four hours as they continued their investigation.

It remains unclear if the driver of the tractor-trailer dump truck will receive any citations following the crash.

Liability In Madison County Dump Truck Accidents

Thousands of people are killed every year in truck collisions. According to the Engineering News Record, “Dump truck accidents severe enough that the vehicle had to be towed away rose 9%, hitting 8,206 in 2016, the latest year statistics are available.” This can be attributed in part to poor driving habits and overworked drivers. Fatigue, in particular, has been one of the main contributing factors for dump truck collisions. Other factors that could potentially contribute to a dump truck collision may include:

Speeding
Unsafe lane changes
Driver distraction
Over-the-counter drug use
Unsafe turning movements

Dump truck drivers must get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Operating a dump truck is very different from operating a passenger vehicle. It requires a different set of knowledge and skills. For example, dump trucks have large blind spots and a wide turning radius. In order to make turns safely, dump truck drivers must first check their blind spots for vehicles that could be nearby.

Truck drivers have a legal responsibility to exercise due care and take measures to avoid causing collisions. According to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-804) (a), “No person may turn a vehicle at an intersection unless the vehicle is in proper position upon the highway as required in Section 11-801 or turn a vehicle to enter a private road or driveway, or otherwise turn a vehicle from a direct course or move right or left upon a roadway unless and until such movement can be made with reasonable safety.” Drivers that make abrupt turning movements will typically be held at fault in the event of an accident.

Depending on the specific facts of any case, liability for a dump truck collision could extend beyond any driver. For example, if the dump truck was owned by a construction company that company could be at fault. Under Illinois law, corporations are typically liable for the negligent conduct of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the scope of their job duties. By contrast, companies will typically not be liable for the negligent conduct of the independent contractors that they hire. There are many steps that should be taken after any dump truck accident.

Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
All drivers involved should be interviewed.
The work records of any dump truck driver should be examined.
Photos of the accident site should be taken.
Surveillance footage should be sought.
Medical records should be preserved.

The family of any victim that died in a dump truck accident may have recourse through Illinois civil statute (740 ILCS 180/1). Damages in a civil claim can help with many of the unexpected expenses that can come with the sudden and tragic loss of a loved one. Typically, civil claims will be brought by the victim’s next of kin including their spouse or parents. Sadly, however, truck companies will often fight hard to deny responsibility for any collision. A truck accident attorney can investigate all of the facts of your case free of cost and get to the bottom of what may have contributed to an accident.

Investigating A Madison County Dump Truck Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Riley Schreck. Any person that may have information about what happened should reach out to police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into this incident so that steps can be taken to prevent similar tragedies. This accident also raises a number of safety concerns. Was the driver of the dump truck properly trained? Did they have a commercial license? Were they potentially distracted? The vast majority of truck collisions can be prevented when drivers exercise caution and watch for oncoming vehicles. Far too often, this does not happen and it’s the drivers and passengers of smaller vehicles that pay the ultimate price.

Do you need more information about a Madison County dump truck accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to help get you the answers that you are owed under the law. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that truck comapnies are held accountable for their actions. Whether you need more information about an accident or have some other concern we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.