Two People Killed In Jefferson County Semi-Truck Accident on Interstate 57
Truck Accident - January 4, 2023
Two People Died, Three People From Shreveport, Louisiana Injured In Jefferson County Hit-And-Run Semi-Truck Accident Along Interstate 57
JEFFERSON COUNTY, ILLINOIS (January 3, 2022) – Two people were killed and three more were injured in a Jefferson County semi-truck accident on Interstate 57.
Jefferson County officials are saying that the collision took place around 1:18 a.m. on Monday. Five people from Shreveport, Louisiana were traveling down the road in an SUV.
That SUV was struck by a semi-truck in a construction area as two lanes on the freeway merged into one. Two passengers in the SUV were ejected into the roadway as the SUV overturned multiple times.
The semi-truck involved in the crash kept going and left the scene. Paramedics were called to the scene of the collision in order to help all of the victims.
Sadly, the two people who were ejected both died as a result of their injuries. One person was airlifted out of Mt. Vernon and taken to St. Louis.
Two other people were taken to an area hospital in order to receive treatment.
Liability For Jefferson County Semi-Truck Accidents
Semi-trucks are substantially more dangerous than passenger vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, “In 2020, 4,842 large trucks were involved in a fatal crash, a 4% decrease from 2019 but still a 33% increase since 2011. The involvement rate per 100 million large-truck miles traveled is down 5% from 2019, but up 18% since 2011.” There are a number of steps that truck companies should take to prevent collisions.
- Truck companies should make sure that all of their vehicles are well maintained.
- Truck companies can install safety features on their vehicles such as forward collision avoidance systems.
- Truck companies should make sure that all of their drivers are well trained.
Semi-truck drivers will typically need a commercial license and are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Many accidents occur when truck drivers make dangerous lane changes. Pursuant to 625 ILCS 5/11-709, the driver of any vehicle shall not move from a single lane of traffic until that driver has first ascertained that such a movement can be made with reasonable safety. Any driver that flees the scene of a collision may face criminal and civil liability for their actions.
When a truck driver flees the scene of a collision, this may be because they didn’t realize they were involved in a collision in the first place. In these situations, the truck driver may not have been paying adequate attention to the road. When a truck driver is negligent and causes a collision, the company that they were working for could be held at fault. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any semi-truck accident.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- Fragments of any fleeing vehicle should be sought.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
It can be difficult to know where to begin after any hit-and-run collision. But it is important for accident victims to know that they do have rights. They have the ability to seek some measure of justice through a civil claim. Sadly, though, even if a truck driver is caught after a hit-and-run, it is common for them to fight hard to deny all liability for the crash. This is why it is so important that all evidence is properly preserved after any collision.
Investigating An Illinois Semi-Truck Accident
We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of the deceased. It is our sincere hope that the three survivors will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. The truck driver involved in this collision should do the right thing and come forward. It is never too late to do the right thing.
Do you need more information about a Jefferson County semi-truck accident? Our team of consumer safety advocates 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, independent investigation into any collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.
