Rickey Washington Jr Killed In McLean County Semi-Truck Accident On Interstate 55 Near Milepost 154

Truck Accident - January 29, 2022

Rickey Washington Jr, of Kalamazoo, Michigan, Died In McLean County Big Rig Truck Accident On Interstate 55 south of Milepost 154

Rickey Washington Jr Killed In McLean County Semi-Truck Accident On Interstate 55 Near Milepost 154

BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS (January 28, 2022) – A man from Kalamazoo, Michigan identified as Rickey Washington Jr has tragically died in a semi-truck accident on Interstate 55.

Bloomington police officials are saying that the collision took place around 8:46 p.m. on Tuesday. Rickey Washington Jr was in a white Ford Explorer when it suddenly stalled on the freeway.

He put his hazard lights on, but a semi-truck struck the rear of the vehicle. The force of the impact pushed the Ford Explorer into a utility pole.

Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the victim. Rickey Washington Jr sustained severe spinal cord injuries from the crash and could not be saved by first responders.

Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene. A full investigation into the crash remains ongoing at this time.

Liability In McLean County Semi-Truck Accidents

Operating a commercial truck is much more difficult than operating a passenger vehicle. A fully loaded semi-truck can weigh as much as 80,000 lbs. When a semi-truck is traveling down the freeway at 60 mph it can take the truck the length of two football fields to come to a complete stop. Truck drivers must get a commercial driver’s license and undergo special training to operate their truck. They must also abide by a number of state and federal rules and regulations.

  • Truck drivers are only allowed to work for 60 hours over a 7-day period.
  • Truck drivers may not drive with a BAC of 0.04% or higher.
  • Truck drivers must get adequate rest before their shift. They must also take periodic breaks.

All truck drivers have a legal obligation to exercise due care in order to avoid causing accidents. This includes maintaining a safe follow distance with the vehicle ahead of them. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-710), “The driver of a motor vehicle shall not follow another vehicle more closely than is reasonable and prudent, having due regard for the speed of such vehicles and the traffic upon and the condition of the highway.” When a commercial truck driver fails to maintain a safe distance with the vehicle ahead of them they can be held at fault through a civil claim.

Rear-end collisions are among the most common type of accident that occurs. They are also the most preventable. There is simply no reason that any driver should ever rear-end another vehicle. This is true even if a vehicle is stalled in the middle of the roadway. Drivers must scan the road ahead of them and brake to avoid hitting other cars. In fact, there is a rebuttable presumption of negligence when a driver does rear-end another vehicle. There are, however, other factors aside from driver error that could contribute to a rear-end collision.

  • A semi-truck could be poorly maintained.
  • A semi-truck could be overloaded, which would make it more difficult to stop.
  • The brakes on a semi-truck could be faulty.

The family of any victim that died in a semi-truck accident may be able to seek aid through a wrongful death claim. Damages in a civil claim can help cover lost wages, medical bills and funeral expenses. Sadly, though, truck companies will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any collision. This is why it is so critical to make sure that evidence is preserved after any accident. An Illinois wrongful death attorney can examine the unique facts of your case free of cost and take steps to help protect your rights.

Investigating A McLean County Semi-Truck Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Rickey Washington Jr. Any person that may have information about what happened should reach out to police. This was a highly preventable collision that should have never taken place. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of the victim’s family. No family should ever have to suffer through something like this.

Do you need more information about a McLean County semi-truck accident? Our team of personal injury attorneys are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free investigation into what caused an accident we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.