Jason Messick Killed Montgomery Semi-Truck Accident on Route 31

Truck Accident - May 3, 2025

Jason Messick, of Oswego, Died in Montgomery Collision With Semi-Truck by Route 31 and Caterpillar Drive

MONTGOMERY, ILLINOIS (May 3, 2025) – A man identified as Jason Messick has tragically died in a Montgomery semi-truck accident on Route 31 by Caterpillar Drive.

Montgomery police are saying that the accident took place around 5:17 p.m. on Wednesday. A semi-truck was traveling southbound on Route 31 when the driver attempted to make a left-hand turn onto Caterpillar Drive.

The truck turned directly into the path of a sedan driven by Jason Messick. Both vehicles collided, which caused the sedan to become wedged underneath the semi-truck.

Paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. Despite life-saving measures, Jason Messick died due to the severe nature of his injuries.

A full investigation into the deadly Montgomery truck accident remains ongoing.

Liability for Montgomery Semi-Truck Accidents

Trucks account for a relatively small number of the total vehicles on the roadway. But they are involved in a disproportionately high number of serious injury and fatal collisions. According to one report by the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 155 fatal collisions with semi-trucks in the state of Illinois for 2022. Over 2000 of those semi-truck accidents resulted in a severe injury. Fatal collisions involving tractor trailers increased by an estimated 31.4% from 2021 to 2022. Truck companies should take a number of different actions in order to prevent collisions.

Maintenance: Truck companies should ensure that all of their vehicles are periodically inspected and well maintained.
Cargo Loading: Truck companies should ensure that all of their vehicles are properly loaded according to safety regulations.
Background Checks: Truck companies should ensure that all of their drivers pass a background check and have the appropriate commercial license for their delivery route.

Truck drivers are required to get a commercial driver’s license (CDL) and must exercise a great deal of caution in order to avoid hitting other vehicles on the roadway. These drivers must be cognizant of the fact that their vehicles have large blind spots. They must check their blind spots before making turns. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-902, the driver of any vehicle intending to turn left within an intersection must first yield the right-of-way to all vehicles traveling from the opposite direction that are close enough so as to pose a hazard. If a truck driver makes a left turn into the path of another vehicle, this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

When a truck driver acts negligently and causes a collision, their employer could also potentially be held at fault for the accident. As a general principle, employers are liable for the wrongful actions of their employees–insofar as those employees were operating within the course and scope of their work duties. This could include instances where a truck driver was delivering goods from one location to another. However, truck companies will often try to avoid direct liability for collisions by hiring their drivers as independent contractors.

Many lawsuits have been filed due to truck drivers that have caused accidents by making dangerous left turns. Consider, for example, Kersey v. Rush Trucking, Inc. In that case, a truck driver made a left turn at an intersection, which resulted in a fatal collision with an oncoming vehicle. The appellate court found that the truck driver failed to yield the right of way to the oncoming vehicle as required under 625 ILCS 5/11-902. It is important that several steps are taken after any fatal truck accident.

Work Records: The logbook of the truck driver involved should be examined. Truck drivers are only allowed to work so many hours per day and week.
Surveillance: It should be determined if any surveillance cameras may have captured the collision. These could include cameras at an intersection. In many cases, businesses also capture traffic accidents with their surveillance cameras.
Police Report: The accident should be immediately reported to the police. The police will conduct a preliminary investigation in order to determine what went wrong. They will also make a preliminary finding about who was liable for the collision.

Truck accidents are often highly preventable. Part of the problem is that many truck companies will push their drivers to complete delivery routes on unrealistic time schedules. In fact, one out of 10 truck drivers involved in a fatal collision reported feeling under pressure from their carrier. Sadly, though, truck companies will often do everything in their power to deny responsibility if one of their drivers is involved in a crash. This is why it is so important that any truck accident be thoroughly investigated by an outside party.

Investigating Montgomery Semi-Truck Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Jason Messick. This was a preventable collision that should not have taken place. Any person that may have more information should reach out to the Montgomery Police Department. Many questions remain unanswered. Was the truck driver involved in this crash distracted? Were they speeding? Did they have a history of traffic violations?

Do you need more information about a Montgomery semi-truck accident? Our team of roadway safety advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and making sure that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into the circumstances of any collision, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.