Steven Vaughn Killed In St Clair County Box Truck Accident On Illinois 158 By Besse Lane

Truck Accident - January 19, 2022

Steven Vaughn, of Waterloo, Died In St Clair County Truck Accident Near Millstadt On Illinois 158 By Besse Lane

ST CLAIR COUNTY, ILLINOIS (January 18, 2022) – A 56-year-old man identified as Steven Vaughn of Waterloo has tragically died in a box truck accident on Illinois 158 near Besse Lane.

Illinois State Police are saying that the collision took place around 12:30 p.m. on Monday, January 17th not far from Millstadt. A box truck was heading east on Illinois 158 when its driver began to turn into a business.

The box truck struck a Dodge Ram pickup truck driven by Steven Vaughn. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help the injured man.

Despite the best efforts of first responders Steven Vaughn died due to his injuries. Police officials cited the driver of the box truck for failure to yield.

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

Liability In St Clair County Box Truck Accidents

Thousands of people are killed or seriously injured every year in truck accidents. According to one report by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 4,119 people died in accidents with large trucks in 2019 alone. Most of the victims of truck accidents are pedestrians and those in passenger vehicles.  There are a number of factors that make commercial trucks particularly dangerous.

• Commercial trucks can weight 20 – 30 times more than passenger vehicles. Even a low impact collision can be catastrophic.
• Due to their weight, large trucks take 20-40% longer to stop than passenger vehicles. This distance increases on slick roads or when a truck’s brakes are poorly maintained.
• Large trucks have a high ground clearance which often results in underride collisions with smaller vehicles.

Commercial truck drivers in Illinois must get a commercial driver’s license. They must pass both a knowledge and skills test and are typically held to a high standard in terms of safety. Operating a commercial truck safely requires a different set of skills than driving a passenger vehicle. Depending on the specific facts of any case, there could be numerous sources of liability for a truck accident.

Many truck accidents are due to truck drivers that fail to yield the right of way and make dangerous left turns. According to Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/11-902), “The driver of a vehicle intending to turn to the left within an intersection or into an alley, private road, or driveway shall yield the right-of-way to any vehicle approaching from the opposite direction which is so close as to constitute an immediate hazard, but said driver, having so yielded may proceed at such time as a safe interval occurs.” The driver of a truck makes a dangerous left turn and causes an accident could be held at fault through a negligence claim.

If a truck driver was working at the time of a collision, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. Generally speaking, companies are liable for the negligent actions of their employees – insofar as those employees were working within the course and scope of their job duties. Companies will often try to evade liability for accidents by hiring their drivers as “independent contractors.” It is important to determine the employment status of a truck driver at the time of a collision. There are a number of other actions that should be taken.

• Photos of the accident site should be captured.
• Surveillance footage should be sought.
• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• The truck driver should be interviewed.
• Medical records should be preserved.

The family of any victim that died due to the negligence of a truck driver may have recourse through the Illinois Wrongful Death Act: 740 ILCS 180/1. Damages can help cover some of the unexpected expenses that often come with the sudden and tragic loss of a loved one. It is extremely important that evidence is preserved after any serious collision. This is what can help establish whether a truck driver acted negligently. A truck accident attorney can examine the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.

Investigating A St Clair County Box Truck Accident

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Steven Vaughn. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to authorities. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all who have lost so much. It is our sincere hope that steps are taken to prevent similar tragedies along this stretch of road.

Do you need more information about a truck accident that took place in St Clair County? 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 negligent drivers are held to account for their actions. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into a collision we are here for you. You’re always welcome to reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.