Domingo Ocampo Killed in Gurnee Car Accident Involving Loose Trailer Wheel

Wrongful Death - August 10, 2026

Domingo Ocampo, 60, Died in Gurnee Collision While Riding Electric Scooter After Being Hit by Wheel That Came Off Ford F-450 Trailer

cars and trucks driving on a highway - can more than one party be responsible in truck accidents in Chicago, IL?

.

GURNEE, ILLINOIS (August 10, 2026) – A 60-year-old man identified as Domingo Ocampo has tragically died in a Gurnee car accident involving a Ford F-450 pickup truck.

Lake County officials are saying that the collision occurred on July 27. Domingo Ocampo was riding an electric scooter along northbound Route 41 by the Grand Avenue exit when he was hit by a wheel that came off a trailer being pulled by a Ford F-450 truck.

The force of the impact caused the victim to sustain major blunt force injuries to his head. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the innocent victim.

He was transported to Advocate Condell Medical Center in critical condition. Unfortunately, Domingo Ocampo was pronounced deceased over a week after the initial crash while in the Intensive Care Unit at the hospital.

A Major Crash Assistance Team has been assigned to investigate the crash. It remains unclear if the driver of the pickup truck will face any citations for the deadly collision.

You can help support the family of the victim through GoFundMe.

Liability for Gurnee Car Accidents

Every person operating a motor vehicle in the state of Illinois has a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian in the roadway. This obligation necessitates that drivers periodically inspect and adequately maintain their vehicles. Section 12-101 of the Illinois Vehicle Code prohibits drivers from operating their vehicle when they know it is in an unsafe condition that would jeopardize the well-being of other people. Commercial drivers are required to abide by 49 C.F.R. § 393.205, which strictly prohibits operating a vehicle with broken wheels or rims. Several pieces of evidence can help reveal whether or not a driver was properly maintaining their vehicle prior to a collision.

  • Wheel and Hub Components: All of the lug nuts, hubs, and rims associated with any tire that came loose should be thoroughly inspected for signs of improper installation.
  • Maintenance Records: Any maintenance records related to the upkeep of the vehicle should also be carefully inspected. Service logs can help establish that a vehicle required additional repairs or maintenance.
  • Ownership Records: Another important item to consider is any ownership records of the vehicle. Under Illinois law, vehicle owners can be liable for collisions, even if they were not the ones driving at the time of the crash.
  • Post-Crash Documentation: All of the photographs and accident reconstruction reports created after a collision should be carefully considered. They can help piece together what went wrong, particularly if one component of a vehicle similarly failed.

If a driver fails to adequately maintain their vehicle prior to any accident where a wheel comes off, this could serve as evidence of negligence. Depending on the unique facts of any collision, several different parties may share legal responsibility for such a crash. Consider, for example, Jones v. O’Brien Tire & Battery Service Center, Inc., Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District (2001). This case involved a driver that was killed after the rear wheel of a truck separated and hit their vehicle. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that a tire service business negligently mounted the wheel that came loose and caused the fatal collision. In particular, the lug nuts holding the wheel together were not properly tightened.

Preserving Evidence After a Gurnee Wheel-Separation Crash

Accidents involving wheel separations are unfortunately much more common than many people realize. According to one report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 511 people died in tire-related crashes in 2024 alone. Because the cause of any wheel-separation accidents may not be immediately apparent solely from the evidence at the scene, it is important that numerous steps are taken to preserve all related evidence.

  • Wheel Assembly: The entirety of the wheel assembly should be completely preserved so that it can be thoroughly reviewed. This will include all of the rim, wheel, bearings, and any damaged pieces related to the assembly.
  • Police Report: The police report created after any collision is far from thorough. But it can still contain relevant pieces of information on an officer’s initial impression of how the crash took place.
  • Electronic Records: Most commercial vehicles will come equipped with event data records. All of the electronic records collected from that device should be downloaded and stored in a secure location. It is also worth collecting any fleet, telematics, and dispatch records related to the specific driver involved.
  • Surveillance Footage: Many intersections and roadways across Illinois are covered by at least one or more surveillance cameras. Any surveillance footage related to the accident can be enormously useful in a number of different situations.

Unfortunately, individual drivers, insurance providers, and corporations are not likely to willingly turn over evidence that may incriminate them. This is why it’s so important that these incidents are thoroughly investigated by an outside party. In particular, an attorney can force defendants to preserve key pieces of evidence through subpoenas and other measures. Victims of car accidents in Illinois are protected by a number of laws. Among other things, the family member of any person who died in a collision involving a wheel separation is able to pursue some measure of accountability through a wrongful death claim.

Investigating Gurnee Car Accidents 

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Domingo Ocampo. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have occurred. Any person who may have more information about what happened is asked to reach out to the authorities. There are so many important questions related to this incident that still need to be answered. Who is responsible for maintaining the trailer and vehicles involved? Were the lug nuts and bolts on the tire that came loose properly secured?

Do you need more information about a wheel-separation accident in Illinois? Our team of accident investigators is here to assist you. We have decades of experience investigating complex accident cases. You can rest assured that our team will do everything in our power to get you the answers and support that you are entitled to under the law. 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. Se Habla Español.