Dominque Stringer Killed In Peoria County Truck Accident on Interstate 74

Truck Accident - July 3, 2025

Dominque Stringer, 30, of Peoria, Died After Tires From Semi-Truck Broke Off and Hit His Vehicle on Interstate 74 In Peoria County

PEORIA COUNTY, ILLINOIS (July 3, 2025) – A 30-year-old man identified as Dominque Stringer has tragically died in a Peoria County semi-truck accident along Interstate 74.

Peoria County officials are saying that the accident took place around 7:50 a.m. on Thursday. A semi-truck was traveling west along Interstate 74 when the back two rear tires of the trailer broke free.

Those tires collided with the concrete barrier before entering eastbound lanes of traffic. They continued until they collided with the front windshield of a Ford Explorer SUV driven by Dominque Stringer.

Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision to help the victim. Sadly, Dominque Stringer died due to the severe nature of his injuries.

A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Car Accidents Caused by Poorly Maintained Trucks

Accidents caused by vehicle and tire defects may seem like freak occurrences, but they are actually fairly common. According to one report by the National Transportation Safety Board, “Each year, about 33,000 tire-related passenger vehicle crashes occur, resulting in about 19,000 injuries. In 2013, a total of 539 people died in tire-related passenger vehicle crashes.” It is therefore imperative that vehicle operators routinely inspect and maintain all parts of their vehicle. This is particularly important for commercial trucks because they have such a high utilization rate. Truck companies should take a number of measures to prevent accidents involving vehicle system failures.

Maintenance and Inspections: Truck companies must follow all maintenance regulations set forth by the FMCSA. This includes taking preventative measures such as oil changes, brake checks, and tire inspections.
Recordkeeping: Truck companies should maintain inspection and repair logs. This can help keep them accountable and ensure that all repairs and replacement of parts are well documented.
Modern Telematics: Truck companies should consider installing vehicle diagnostic systems that monitor multiple aspects of a vehicle’s performance, including engine performance, tire pressure, and brake status.
Driver Training: Truck companies should train all of their drivers to recognize and report the warning signs that commonly precede vehicle system failures.
Proper Loading: Truck companies should ensure that their vehicles are properly loaded. Overloading and improper load distribution can place strain on a truck’s brakes, suspension, and tires.

Truck companies have a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid causing accidents. They must operate their vehicle at a safe speed at all times and scan the road ahead of them for hazards. But their obligation to prevent accidents doesn’t stop when a truck is no longer in motion. If a truck company fails to properly maintain their vehicle and this leads to an injury collision, they could face liability for the crash. For example, a truck company may have allowed the vehicle’s axle to become severely worn or cracked after years of use. It is also possible that the lug nuts holding the tires on a truck were improperly fastened.

Many truck companies have faced lawsuits after vehicle system failures led to serious collisions. Consider, for example, Inman v. Howe Freightways, Inc. 2019 IL App (1st) 172459. The plaintiff was seriously injured in a collision on Interstate 80 near Joliet, Illinois, involving a tractor-trailer left partially on the shoulder of the highway. Attorneys for the plaintiff argued that the truck was improperly maintained and the truck company failed to warn approaching drivers or remove the truck from its dangerous location. A jury ultimately found that the truck company was 57% at fault for failing to maintain its vehicle safely. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any truck accident.

All of the maintenance records of the truck involved in any collision should be thoroughly reviewed.
The safety record of the truck company involved should be scrutinized.
Photos and any surveillance footage of the accident site should be collected.
The truck involved in the actual collision should be thoroughly examined.

The vast majority of truck accidents are entirely preventable. This is particularly true when a truck or its component parts break down and cause a collision. Tires do not randomly fall off trucks. These types of accidents are often highly indicative of trucks that are not being properly maintained. In many situations, these trucks may be loaded beyond capacity, and this may have contributed to the crash. The family of any person who died due to the negligence of a truck company may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil action.

Investigating Peoria County Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Dominque Stringer. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to the Illinois State Police. Many questions remain unanswered at this time. When was this truck last serviced? Which company manufactured the truck? What is the safety record of the company that owned the truck?

Do you need more information about a Peoria County truck accident? Our team of roadway safety advocates is here to help in any way that we can. We are committed to helping accident victims understand their rights and working to ensure that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any accident, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.