Caleb Kinzinger Killed in Millstadt Garbage Truck Accident

Truck Accident - August 27, 2026

Caleb Kinzinger, 23, of Freeburg, Died in St. Clair County Car Accident Involving Garbage Truck at Illinois Route 158 and Douglas Road Near Millstadt

MILLSTADT, ILLINOIS (August 27, 2026) – A 23-year-old man identified as Caleb Kinzinger has tragically died in a St. Clair County garbage truck accident near the intersection of Illinois Route 158 and Douglas Road.

St. Clair County officials are saying that the accident occurred around 6:25 AM on Thursday morning. For undetermined reasons, a vehicle occupied by Caleb Kinzinger was involved in a collision with a garbage truck at the intersection.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the crash to help the victim. Unfortunately, Caleb Kinzinger was pronounced deceased at the scene.

Illinois state patrol conducted accident reconstruction in order to determine how the collision occurred. The intersection was eventually reopened after some period.

The intersection where the collision took place has a history of major crashes. There have been at least five separate injury collisions since April 2021.

In particular, two people were killed on July 12, 2022 after a Chevrolet truck was involved in a collision with an Equinox.

Liability for St. Clair County Garbage Truck Accidents

Every person operating a motor vehicle in Illinois owes a duty of care to the other drivers that they share the road with. Garbage truck drivers are typically required to obtain a commercial license and expected to operate with an abundance of caution to avoid any accident. Illinois Vehicle Code’s general speed rule, 625 ILCS 5/11-601 requires the drivers to maintain a safe speed and proper lookout given the prevailing road conditions that they encounter. Any driver intending to turn their vehicle should check their blind spots and only proceed when it is reasonably safe to do so. Investigators will take into consideration numerous factors when evaluating liability for any collision involving a garbage truck.

Driver Operation: The speed of all vehicles involved and right-of-way requirements at the intersection will be evaluated.
Truck Condition: The overall condition of any garbage truck involved is also important to consider. In particular, it matters if the truck had adequate brakes, tires, and mirrors.
Company Actions:Companies that utilize commercial drivers may face legal responsibility for a crash when the driver was operating within the scope of their job duties. To that end, it is worth considering what training and supervision any employer may have provided.
Federal Requirements: There are specific guidelines related to operating a commercial vehicle on public roadways under 49 C.F.R. § 396.3. Among other things, these vehicles must be periodically inspected and well maintained.

Depending on the unique facts of any collision, there could be multiple liable parties. Consider, for example, McQueen v. Green, 2022 IL 126666. In that case, a company driver was hauling a skid steer that was not properly loaded onto a vehicle. The skid steer swung into the path of another car and caused a major collision. The court held that an employer could still be held directly liable for a collision, even in instances where they accept vicarious liability for the negligence of one of their workers.

Safety Pressures in the Garbage Collection Industry

Refuse collection can be particularly hazardous, both to workers and other road users. In particular, garbage trucks are required to drive through residential areas where pedestrians are known to congregate. Garbage truck drivers are put under an enormous amount of pressure to complete their work obligation as quickly as possible. One 2018 investigation by ProPublica of NYC’s garbage truck drivers found that workers often put in 10- to 14-hour days. This can lead to dangerous levels of fatigue. Garbage truck companies should take a number of different measures to prevent accidents.

Route Scheduling: Collection schedules should provide enough time for workers to complete their operations without needing to rush or speed.
Route Planning: Garbage truck drivers should use commercial GPS systems that eliminate as many left turns as possible for the routes their drivers take.
Training: Garbage truck drivers should be adequately supervised and trained to check their blind spots before initiating any turn or proceeding through an intersection.
Technology: Garbage truck companies should also consider technological features to help reduce collisions. This includes blind-spot monitoring systems and forward collision avoidance.

Motor vehicle collisions are often highly complex events. The factors that contribute to any crash could take place several hours, days, or months beforehand. This is particularly true when a garbage truck or other commercial vehicle is involved. When there is a history of collisions at any particular intersection or roadway, this may also point to underlying safety issues that need to be addressed. It could also potentially impose civil liability on the city or other entity responsible for constructing or maintaining that roadway. The family of any person who died due to the negligent actions of a garbage truck driver may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil action.

Investigating Illinois Garbage Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Caleb Kinzinger. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong for the sake of the victim’s family. Given the clear history of serious and fatal collisions at this intersection, city officials should consider measures that can help make it safer.

Do you need more information about a St. Clair County garbage truck accident? Are you concerned the police or investigators are not giving you the full story? Our team of Illinois roadway safety advocates is here for you. We are committed to helping the victims understand their rights and working to make public roadways safer for all those that rely on them. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the unique facts of any collision, we are here to serve your needs. You can contact us anytime at (312) 564-4256.