Daniel Cromwell Sr Killed In Kankakee County Semi-Truck Accident On Illinois Route 17

Truck Accident - August 5, 2022

Daniel Cromwell Sr., of Momence,  Died In Kankakee County Tractor Trailer Truck Accident On Illinois Route 17 Near Heiland Road

Daniel Cromwell Sr Killed In Kankakee County Semi-Truck Accident On Illinois Route 17

KANKAKEE COUNTY, ILLINOIS (August 5, 2022) – A 50-year-old pedestrian from Momence identified as Daniel Cromwell Sr was killed in a Kankakee County semi-truck accident on Illinois Route 17.

Kankakee County officials are saying that the collision took place around 11:30 p.m. on Sunday. Daniel Cromwell Sr was walking when he was hit by a semi-truck traveling east on Route 17 near Heiland Road.

Paramedics and Illinois State Police were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Despite the best efforts of first responders, Daniel Cromwell Sr was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police officers interviewed the driver of the semi-truck who remained at the scene. The roadway was closed for a total of five hours as an investigation continued.

Liability In Kankakee County Semi-Truck Accidents

Thousands of people are killed in semi-truck accidents every year. Tens of thousands more are left with serious injuries. According to the IIHS, “A total of 4,014 people died in large truck crashes in 2020. Fifteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 16 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” There are a number of reasons that semi-trucks can be particularly dangerous to pedestrians.

  • Semi-trucks have large blind spots all around the vehicle that can easily obscure the presence of pedestrians.
  • Semi-trucks have a large turning radius. It is common for pedestrians to be hit by the trailer of trucks completing turns.
  • A semi-truck traveling at 65 mph can take the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop.

Semi-truck drivers will typically need a commercial driver’s license  (CDL) and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. A serious traffic infraction can jeopardize a truck driver’s ability to maintain their CDL. Moreover, truck drivers are only allowed to work so many hours per day and week. Generally speaking, truck drivers can only work 60 hours in a 7-day period. They must also take periodic breaks to help ensure that they are well rested. Fatigue, in particular, is one of the leading causes of semi-truck accidents in the United States.

All truck drivers must exercise due care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians. They must also operate their vehicle at a safe speed. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5, no person may operate a motor vehicle at a speed greater than what would be reasonable or safe given the prevailing conditions of the roadway. If a truck driver fails to reduce their speed in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. A truck driver’s employer could also potentially be liable for a crash. There are a number of measures that should be taken after any truck accident.

  • The employment status of the truck driver should be determined.
  • The truck driver’s logbook should be reviewed.
  • Eye witnesses to the crash should be interviewed.
  • Medical records should be preserved.
  • A thorough, independent investigation should be conducted.

The family of any pedestrian that is killed in a truck accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover many of the unexpected expenses that can come with the sudden loss of a love one. Sadly, though, truck companies will often fight hard to deny liability for any crash. This is why it is so crucial that evidence is properly preserved.

Investigating A Kankakee County Semi-Truck Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Daniel Cromwell Sr. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There are so  many questions that need to be answered. Was the truck driver involved in this crash properly licensed? Were they potentially distracted? Is there a history of collisions along this stretch of road?

Do you need more information about a Kankakee County semi-truck accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to help in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the information and resources that they are entitled to under the law. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.