Fernando Castellanos Killed In Elk Grove Village Semi-Truck Accident

Pedestrian Accident - September 4, 2023

Fernando Castellanos, 61, of Aurora, Died In Elk Grove Village Pedestrian Accident With Freightliner Truck By Busse Road and Greenleaf Avenue

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, ILLINOIS (September 4, 2023) – A 61-year-old man identified as Fernando Castellanos  has died in an Elk Grove Village semi-truck accident near Busse Road and Greenleaf Avenue.

Cook County officials are saying that the collision took place around 11:13 a.m. on Wednesday. Fernando Castellanos was trying to cross Busse Road when he was hit by a white 2022 tractor-trailer truck.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. He was transported to a local area hospital with major injuries.

Sadly, Fernando Castellanos was later pronounced dead at the hospital. This is the third fatal collision in Elk Grove Village in under a week.

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

Liability For Elk Grove Village Pedestrian Accidents

Pedestrians are uniquely vulnerable to the hazards posed by commercial trucks. According to the IIHS, “A total of 4,714 people died in large truck crashes in 2021, a 17 percent increase compared with 2020. Sixteen percent of these deaths were truck occupants, 68 percent were occupants of cars and other passenger vehicles, and 15 percent were pedestrians, bicyclists or motorcyclists.” There are a number of reasons that semi-trucks can be particularly dangerous.

•  A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs thereby making even low-impact collisions very dangerous.
• Commercial trucks traveling at freeway speeds can take the length of two football fields to come to a stop.
• Semi-trucks have very large blind spots all around the vehicle which can obscure the presence of pedestrians.

Semi-truck drivers must get a commercial driver’s license and must use an abundance of care to avoid collisions. They must follow all rules and regulations laid out in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations. In particular, there are rules and regulations relating to how many hours a semi-truck can operate. They are also required to take periodic breaks during their shift. A large portion of semi-truck accidents are due to driver fatigue.

All semi-truck drivers must exercise due care to avoid hitting pedestrians. Pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-1003.1, drivers should slow down and use their horn when necessary to alert pedestrians of their presence. Drivers must be especially cautious around pedestrians or any confused person in the roadway. If a semi-truck driver fails to slow down to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

The company that a truck driver worked for could also be liable for a collision. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. However, many truck companies will try to evade liability for collisions by hiring their truck drivers as independent contractors. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any semi-truck accident.

• The employment status of the truck driver should be understood.
• The truck driver’s logbook should be reviewed.
• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Surveillance footage of the crash should be sought.

It can be hard to know where to begin after any semi-truck accident. But it is important for accident victims to remember that they do have rights. The family of any person that died in a semi-truck accident may be able to seek some measure of accountability through a civil claim. It is important that all evidence is properly preserved after any collision. Regardless of what any truck driver may claim, evidence is what will ultimately be used to determine liability.

Investigating Elk Grove Village Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Fernando Castellanos. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. This has been the third fatal collision in Elk Grove Village. It is our sincere hope that measures are considered to help make this community safer for all pedestrians.

Do you need more information about an Elk Grove Village pedestrian collision. Our team of pedestrian safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that cities are doing everything in their power to keep pedestrians safe and that truck companies are held accountable for their negligence. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.