Amisi Wilondja Killed In Madison County Semi-Truck Accident on Interstate 70

Truck Accident - July 29, 2025

25-Year-Old Amisi Wilondja, of Phoenix, Arizona, Died in Madison County Tractor-Trailer Truck Accident on I-70 by 20.4 Mile Marker Near Marine

MADISON COUNTY, ILLINOIS (July 29, 2025) – A 25 year-old man from Phoenix, Arizona identified as Amisi Wilondja has tragically died in a Madison County semi-truck accident on I-70.

Madison County officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:30 p.m. on July 24. Amisi Wilondja was struck by a semi truck in the westbound lanes of the highway near the border of Marine.

The driver of the semi-truck stopped after the collision. Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim.

Sadly, Amisi Wilondja was later pronounced dead due to the severe nature of his injuries. A full investigation by the Illinois State Police remains ongoing.

Liability for Madison County Semi-Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks can weigh 80,000 lbs and pose a number of unique hazards for pedestrians. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2023, 5,375 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, an 8.4% decrease from 2022 but a 43% increase in the last 10 years. The involvement rate per 100 million large-truck miles traveled is down 8% from 2022, but up 22% in the last 10 years.” Truck companies are supposed to take many different actions to prevent accidents.

• Maintenance: Truck companies must periodically inspect and maintain all of their vehicles.
• Compliance: Truck companies should ensure that their drivers adhere to all hours of service regulations.
• Technology: Truck companies can install technological features on their vehicles to prevent collisions. This includes collision avoidance systems.

Truck drivers are required to get a commercial license. They are expected to operate within an abundance of caution to avoid colliding with any vehicle or pedestrian on the roadway. Pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, every driver of a vehicle shall exercise do you care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian or person operating a bicycle. They shall give warning to such persons with use of their horn when necessary. Drivers must use extra caution if they encounter any child or obviously confused or incapacitated person in the roadway. When a truck driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting any pedestrian, this conform the basis of a negligence claim.

Liability for any truck accident could extend to several different parties. This includes the company that owned or operated a truck. As in many other states, employers within Illinois are typically vicariously liable for the wrongful actions of their employees operating within their job duties. It is also possible that the company responsible for loading a commercial truck could be held at fault. Overloading can result in trucks taking much longer to stop in the event of an emergency. This could easily lead to a pedestrian being struck on the highway. It is critical that certain evidence is preserved after any truck accident.

• Event Data Recorder: Commercial trucks often have event data recorders. These devices function in much the same way that the black box on an airplane operates. They can offer a tremendous deal of insight into what a truck driver was doing prior to a collision.
• Photographs: Another important piece of evidence is photographs taken at the accident site. These can help paint a clear picture of what may have occurred leading up to a collision. For example, a lack of skid marks in the roadway can indicate that a truck didn’t even attempt to stop before hitting a pedestrian.
• Medical Records: Medical records can also be very important in determining how an accident took place. The location and severity of a persons injuries can offer a great amount of insight into an accident.

It can be hard to know where to begin after any semi-truck accident. This is particularly true for family members who have lost loved ones. To make matters more difficult, truck companies will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if their driver hits a pedestrian. They will blame the victim or say that they were at least partially at fault. But the fact of the matter is the truck drivers must scan the road ahead of them and use caution to avoid any pedestrian, even if they are in the middle of the road. The family of any pedestrian who died in a collision may be able to seek answers and accountability through a civil action.

Investigating Madison County Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Amisi Wilondja. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Illinois State Police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong. Many questions remain unanswered. What was the speed of the truck driver prior to the collision? Were they potentially distracted by their phone or some other device? Did they have a clean driving record prior to the crash?

Do you need more information about a Madison County truck accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping victims get the information and resources that they are owed under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or would like a free, independent investigation to get to the bottom of how an accident took place, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.