Autumn Perez Killed in Chicago Lawn Semi-Truck Accident

Truck Accident - April 22, 2026

Investigation Underway After Autumn Perez, of Romeoville, Died in Chicago Lawn Truck Accident on the 6300 Block of South Western Avenue

Are expert witnesses necessary in truck accident case?

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS (April 22, 2026) – A 29-year-old woman identified as Autumn Perez has tragically died in a Chicago Lawn semi-truck accident on South Western Avenue.

Chicago police officials are saying that the accident took place around 6:00 p.m. on Monday. A semi-truck was traveling down the road when the driver noticed that Autumn Perez was in the middle of the street.

That driver slowed down and sounded his horn, which is when Autumn Perez moved to the sidewalk. The truck driver proceeded to move forward.

However, the woman fell backwards into the roadway and was run over by the rear tires of the truck. Paramedics were called to the scene of the crash to help her.

Despite life-saving measures, Autumn Perez was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the truck remained at the scene and cooperated with police.

He was described as emotional following the collision. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Chicago Lawn Semi-Truck Accidents

Semi-truck drivers are required to get a commercial license and are expected to operate their vehicles with the utmost care to avoid causing injury to pedestrians. Pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian, or any person operating a bicycle or other device propelled by human power and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary and shall exercise proper precaution upon observing any child or any obviously confused, incapacitated or intoxicated person.” Truck drivers should take several precautions to avoid hitting pedestrians.

  • Blind Spots: Truck drivers should constantly scan their mirrors every few seconds to ensure that they have not overlooked pedestrians in their blind spots.
  • Slow Down: Truck drivers should slow down when passing through areas where pedestrians are known to congregate. This is particularly important when they are making turns at intersections.
  • Horn: Truck drivers should use their horn when necessary and make eye contact to ensure pedestrians are aware of their presence.
  • Caution: Truck drivers should use extreme caution when backing up or making other high-risk maneuvers. They should typically have a spotter during these instances if they are not able to rely on a backup camera.

If a truck driver fails to slow down to avoid colliding with any pedestrian in the roadway, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Even if a pedestrian is in the middle of the road, this does not relieve a truck driver of their legal obligation to slow down and use caution to avoid accidents. Depending on the specific facts of any case, there could be several sources of liability for any pedestrian accident involving the truck. In particular, the company that owned the truck could be liable for the collision. A truck company could also be liable for a crash if one of their drivers was not properly licensed.

Steps to Take After Chicago Lawn Semi-Truck Accidents

Commercial trucks account for a relatively small portion of the total vehicles on the roadway. But they’re involved in a disproportionately high number of serious injury and fatal collisions. According to the Governor’s Highway Safety Association, “Light trucks accounted for 54% of pedestrian fatalities where a vehicle type was known in 2023, compared to 37% for passenger cars.” Certain actions should be taken after any accident involving a commercial truck.

  • Police: The police should be called to the accident site as early as possible so that they can begin an investigation. Any report that they create is enormously helpful in piecing together what may have led up to a crash.
  • Medical Records: All of the medical records related to the collision should be sought. The nature and extent of a pedestrian’s injuries can help paint a clear picture of what happened, even in the absence of eyewitnesses.
  • Surveillance: Chicago intersections and streets are covered with traffic cameras. This footage should be saved as early as possible before it is potentially deleted or corrupted.
  • Truck Records: The records of the truck driver involved in the crash should be sought. It matters whether or not they were transporting goods on some official route.
  • Independent Review: The family of any person who died in a pedestrian accident should seek an independent review by a team experienced in accident reconstruction and negligence claims.

Truck accidents tend to be highly preventable. They often involve drivers that are not properly scanning ahead of them. Part of the problem is that truck drivers are pushed to complete delivery routes as quickly as possible. This could lead to them adopting unsafe driving habits. A huge portion of fatal collisions can be prevented when truck drivers simply slow down through busy areas. It is important that the victims of truck accidents understand that they do have legal rights. In particular, surviving family members of any person who died in a truck accident are able to seek some measure of accountability and transparency through a civil action.

Investigating Chicago Lawn Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Autumn Perez. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the police. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong for the sake of the victim’s family. Many questions remain unanswered. What was the speed of the truck driver prior to the crash? Is there a history of pedestrian accidents along the stretch of road? Is there some defect with the sidewalk that may have caused the victim to fall?

Do you need more information about a Chicago Lawn semi-truck accident? Our team of Chicago pedestrian accident lawyers is here for you. We are committed to helping accident victims understand the rights and holding truck companies fully accountable for the negligent actions of their drivers. Whether you have any legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the unique circumstances of any crash, we are here to serve your needs. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.