Category: Truck Accidents

There was a fatal truck accident involving four vehicles (including three semi trucks) Monday night (January 29, 2018) on I-294 near Rosemont.

According to information provided by the Illinois State Police, the crash happened at approximately 8:15 on I-294 at mile post 39.  The crash involved an International semi truck; a Peterbilt semi truck; and a Freightliner semi tractor-trailer.  As well, a van was involved.

An excerpt regarding the crash, from the Joliet Patch article of January 31, 2018, titled “Joliet Woman Dies In I-294 Semitrailer Crash“:

According to the Illinois State’s preliminary investigation, “all units were traveling on I-294 southbound, in the middle left lane, near milepost 39.25. Units 2, 3, and 4 were in slow/stopped traffic, when the driver of unit 1 (International) failed to reduce speed and rear ended unit 2 (Peterbuilt).”

The state police said that the impact caused a chain-reaction crash, prompting unit 2 to rear-end the van and the van to subsequently rear-end the Wisconsin driver’s 2016 Freightliner truck.

The driver of the International semi was taken to Lutheran General Hospital for treatment of her injuries.  She was later pronounced dead.  She was identified as Renee Hodorowicz, 53, of Joliet.

The other truck drivers were taken to Lutheran General Hospital and Resurrection Hospital for treatment of injuries that were considered to be non-life-threatening in nature.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this fatal truck accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the January 31, 2018 Joliet Patch article titled “Joliet Woman Dies In I-294 Semitrailer Crash.”

There was a fatal collision early Friday morning (January 12, 2018) in South Holland.  The collision involved a car and IDOT snow plow.

Details on the accident appear somewhat limited at this time.  The cause of the crash does not appear to be publicly disclosed.

According to information provided by the Illinois State Police, the collision occurred at 2:41 a.m., at Woodlawn Avenue and 162nd Place.  At the time of the crash the snow plow was heading westbound on Woodlawn Avenue.

Three people were injured during the crash.  A 15-year-old boy was pronounced dead after being taken to Ingalls Memorial Hospital in Harvey.

The two other people injured included the driver of the snow plow and the driver of the car.  Both were hospitalized with injuries that were considered to be minor injuries.

The accident investigation is being conducted by the Illinois State Police.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this fatal vehicle collision can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the January 13, 2018 Chicago Sun-Times article titled “15-year-old killed in crash involving IDOT snowplow in South Holland” as well as the January 13 CBS Chicago article titled “1 Killed In Crash Involving IDOT Snow Plow In South Holland.”

Truck accidents that occur in Cook County are discussed on the “Cook County Truck Accidents” page.  This page discusses various Cook County truck accident statistics, and discusses causes of truck accidents.

Individual posts that largely summarize truck accidents that have happened in Cook County are seen under the “truck accidents” category.

Newly released research from Medline Plus (National Institutes of Health) discusses another factor that appears to have an influence on truck crashes – the health of the truck driver.

An excerpt from the Medline Plus page titled “Truckers’ Poor Health:  An Accident Waiting to Happen?“:

Researchers examined data from more than 49,000 commercial truck drivers and found that 34 percent had at least one of several health problems — such as heart disease, low back pain and diabetes — that have been linked with poor driving performance.

Truck drivers with three or more of the flagged medical conditions were two to four times more likely to be in a crash than their healthier peers, the University of Utah researchers found.

For example, the rate of crashes resulting in injury among all truck drivers was 29 per 100 million miles traveled, but was 93 per 100 million miles traveled for drivers with three or more of the identified health problems.

However, the study wasn’t designed to prove a cause-and-effect link.

Additional details and possible updates concerning these truck accident issues can be seen in the sources mentioned above.

There was an accident on the Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55) involving two semi trucks and three cars just before 11:00 a.m.  The accident scene is near the Pulaski Road exit.  The crash led to both semi trucks catching fire, with one of the trucks said to be carrying hazardous materials in the form of paint.

One person in a minivan died in the accident.  The minivan was found underneath one of the semi trucks.

As well, another person was taken to a hospital for treatment of accident injuries.

The accident appears to have been a “chain-reaction” accident.  A description of the crash as seen in the July 25 Chicago Sun-Times article titled “Person found dead in van under semi after Stevenson fire“:

A semi-truck carrying 40,000 pounds of frozen meat struck a passenger vehicle in front of it in the southbound lanes near Cicero, police said. The passenger vehicle then hit another vehicle, thought to be a green minivan.

The green minivan was forced underneath another semi-truck, which was carrying 17,800 pounds of flammable paint, police said. The minivan hit another vehicle, but only the first four caught fire.

The entire Stevenson Expressway has been closed and as of 12:30 p.m. there is no word as to when it will be reopened.

Additional details regarding this Cook County truck accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the Chicago Sun-Times article mentioned above as well as the Naperville Patch article (with pictures) of July 25, 2016 titled “I-55 Shut Down:  2 Trucks On Fire on Stevenson Expressway” as well as the July 25 CBS Chicago article (with pictures and video) titled “Truck Fire Shuts Down Stevenson Expressway.”

There was a multi-vehicle accident Thursday (January 21, 2016) on the Edens Expressway near Skokie.  During the accident, a semi truck rolled over, took down a light pole, and blocked all northbound lanes.

According to the Illinois State Police (ISP), the accident happened on I-94 near Dempster Street at approximately 7:20 a.m.  The truck was involved in a multi-vehicle accident involving three other vehicles.

According to the Skokie Fire Department, no injuries were reported in the accident.

As one might expect, traffic delays were substantial.

Additional details and possible updates can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the January 21,2016 Chicago Sun-Times article titled “Two lanes reopen after semi overturns on Edens” as well as the January 21 fox32chicago.com article titled “Overturned semi blocks all lanes on NB Edens near Skokie.”

Cook County truck accidents are discussed on the “Truck Accidents” page.  While there are many reasons for truck accidents, such truck accidents can be generally classified into two main categories – those caused by error or negligence by the truck driver, and those caused by other motorists or other factors (i.e. not caused by the truck driver.)

On December 8, 2015 there was a truck accident on the Edens Expressway.  While there were no injuries during this accident, a significant road hazard occurred, as well as massive traffic delays.

The accident involved a southbound truck hitting a bridge support on the Edens Expressway Lake Avenue overpass.  This accident, which happened at 3:15 p.m., caused concrete to fall onto the roadway.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) fixed the problem, but in doing so traffic in both directions had to be restricted to one lane.  As one can imagine, this caused massive traffic delays until the problem could be assessed and fixed.

All lanes were reopened at approximately 4:45 p.m.

Additional details and possible updates can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the December 8, 2015 Chicago Tribune article titled “Truck hits support on Edens near Lake Avenue” as well as the December 8 Wilmette-Kenilworth Patch article titled “Update:  All Lanes Clear on the Edens Near Lake Avenue.”

There was a truck accident early Wednesday morning (October 28, 2015) which involved a semi truck “jackknifing” on the Dan Ryan Expressway (I-94) near 63rd Street.  The accident, which happened at approximately 3:15 a.m. blocked all local lanes of the inbound Ryan until approximately 5:45 a.m.

Details on the causes of the truck accident are not provided at this time.

According to the Illinois State Police (ISP) the driver of the semi had minor injuries stemming from the accident, but he did not go to a hospital.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this crash can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the October 28, 2015 Chicago Sun-Times article titled “Lanes reopen on Dan Ryan after semi jackknifes” as well as the October 28 CBS Chicago article titled “Dan Ryan Lanes Reopen After Semi Jackknifes.”

There are many different types of truck accidents that occur in Cook County and Chicago.  The page titled “Truck Accidents” discusses various types of truck accidents and associated statistics regarding Illinois accidents involving trucks.

There was a truck accident Tuesday (August 18, 2015) afternoon involving a truck that struck two pedestrians (a woman and child) in Chicago’s Park Manor neighborhood.

According to the Chicago Fire Department, the accident happened at approximately 2:30 p.m., as the woman and child were attempting to cross the street near 69th and Prairie Avenue.

At that time, as the woman was pushing a stroller, a truck attempting to make a right-hand turn struck the pedestrians.

An excerpt from the NBC Chicago article (with video) of August 19, 2015, titled “Woman, Child Critically Injured After Being Hit By Truck in Chicago“:

“The lady was trying to quickly run to the bus stop because the bus was coming and the man didn’t see her and hit the lady when the lady turned,” said witness Daqwan Brittman. “Her legs was under the truck and she was screaming ‘Help. My baby, my baby.'”

The woman was taken to Stroger Hospital for treatment of her accident injuries.  The child was taken to Comer Children’s Hospital.  At that time both were in critical condition.

The truck driver was identified as Gregory Leonard, 51.  According to the NBC Chicago article, he was cited for failure to reduce speed and failure to yield to pedestrians in the crosswalk.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this Chicago truck accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the NBC Chicago article as well as the August 18 Chicago Tribune article titled “2 in critical condition after being struck by truck on South Side.”

There was a truck accident early Friday morning (June 19, 2015) on Interstate 55 (I-55) near Summit in which a semi truck collided with 13 other vehicles.

According to the Illinois State Police (ISP), the accident happened at approximately 3:40 a.m., and occurred after a semi truck driver fell asleep, at which time his truck collided with 13 cars in a construction zone.  The accident happened on I-55 south of First Avenue.

At least six people were injured in the crash, and they were taken to hospitals for treatment of their accident injuries.  None of the accident injuries are considered to be life-threatening in nature.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this Cook County truck accident be seen in a variety of media sources, including the June 19, 2015 Chicago Tribune article (with video) titled “Police:  6 hurt after semi driver falls asleep, slams into 13 cars on I-55” as well as the June 19 NBC Chicago article (with video) titled “Six Hospitalized In I-55 Crash Involving at Least 10 Vehicles:  ISP.”

There was a truck rollover accident today (September 1, 2014) on the Kennedy Expressway (I-90/94).

Details on the truck accident and its causes appear limited at this time.

According to the Illinois State Police (ISP), the accident, which involved a semi truck rolling over at approximately 11:15 a.m., happened near Addison Street on the inbound Kennedy’s local lanes.

The accident also involved at least one car.

All inbound local lanes were closed following the accident, but reopened by 2:00 p.m.

One person sustained minor injuries during the accident and was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Hospital.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this Chicago truck accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the September 1, 2014 Chicago Sun-Times Voices article titled “Inbound Kennedy reopens after semi rollover at Addison” as well as the September 1 Chicago Tribune article titled “I-90/94 reopened after semi rollover leads to inbound closure.”