Latavia Maines, Child Injured in Marion County Car Accident

Automobile Accidents - August 26, 2026

Medical Helicopter Called After Marion County Collision That Injured Latavia Maines and Child by the Intersection of Green Street and Odin Road

MARION COUNTY, ILLINOIS (August 26, 2026) – A 27-year-old woman identified as Latavia Maines was injured in a Marion County car accident by the intersection of Green Street and Odin Road.

Marion County officials are saying that the incident occurred around 3:43 PM on Thursday afternoon. A 35-year-old driver in a pickup truck was traveling northbound before coming to a stop at the stop sign at Zion Hill Road.

That driver then pulled into the path of a vehicle driven by Latavia Maines. Paramedics and an air ambulance were called to the scene of the collision to help all of the victims.

Both Latavia Maines and a 9-year-old girl were transported to the hospital to receive treatment for injuries. A full investigation into the collision remains ongoing at this time.

Liability for Marion County Intersection Crashes

Illinois law requires that every driver approaching a stop sign must come to a complete stop and yield to any traffic that is close enough to create a hazard under 625 ILCS 5/11-904. There is a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that goes past a yield sign without stopping. In any serious car accident that results in injuries, investigators will take into account multiple factors when determining liability.

Stop Signs: For any intersection that involves more than one stop sign, it should be determined whether each driver obeyed applicable stop signs and right-of-way requirements.
Speed: The speed of each vehicle involved should also be taken into consideration. In certain instances, drivers may bear some level of modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116if they were speeding prior to a collision.
Sight Lines: Another important consideration is visibility at the intersection. A driver’s sight lines may have been obscured by poor weather, vegetation, or structures that prevented them from seeing cross traffic.
Evidence: All of the evidence related to the collision will ultimately reveal what happened and who could be responsible. This will include witness statements and any video footage that may have captured the crash.

There are many things to keep in mind when evaluating liability for a crash. Consider, for example, Griffin v. Cohen, 2015 IL App (5th) 140408, the Illinois Appellate Court, Fifth District. A driver entered the intersection from a stop-sign-controlled road and proceeded to collide with a vehicle that was traveling on a preferred highway. This resulted in a fatal collision. The court held that a driver on a preferred road could still be liable for a collision if there is evidence of some failure that may have contributed to the crash.

Protecting Your Rights After a Major Car Accident

After any major collision, protecting your legal rights is extremely important and will often depend heavily on preserving all relevant evidence. Records related to a collision tend to become harder to obtain as more time passes. One study by the Illinois Department of Transportation found that 303,913 motor vehicle collisions occurred in the state of Illinois in 2024. These crashes resulted in an estimated 63,109 injuries. Accident victims should take a number of steps to protect their rights after any major collision.

Treatment: They should seek treatment as early as possible, and retain all records related to that treatment. Many of the injuries associated with a collision are not going to be immediately obvious.
Police Report: Obtaining a copy of the police report created after the crash is also a smart move. This report contains important evidence, including an officer’s initial assessment of who may be at fault.
Document: It is important to document all of the ways that you’ve been impacted by the collision. This includes any time that you may need to take off work to recover.
Legal Review: Seeking a legal review with an experienced attorney is an important step to take.

Motor vehicle collisions are often highly complex events. This is particularly true when a pickup truck is involved. There could be more than one liable party, especially if the pickup truck involved was being used for any type of commercial purpose. Under Illinois law, commercial entities can be vicariously liable for the negligent conduct of their workers who were operating within the scope of their job duties. Any person injured due to the negligence of another driver may be able to pursue some measure of accountability through a bodily injury claim.

Getting Legal Help After Illinois Car Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our best wishes to Latavia Maines and the 9-year-old child as they continue to recover. This was a preventable collision that should not have taken place. Any person with more information should reach out to the police. It is worth considering what additional safety measures could be taken to help make this particular intersection safer. As Marion County has continued to grow more dense, safety considerations have often not kept pace.

Have you or a loved one been injured due to the reckless actions of another driver in Illinois? Are you facing mounting medical bills or other hardships? There are a number of laws designed to help you. Our team of experienced personal injury attorneys can make sure that you get the medical and financial support that you need to recover and move forward. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help with your unique situation, we are here for you. You can contact us anytime at (312) 564-4256.