MORRIS, Illinois –Two people were killed in a five-vehicle pile-up after at approximately 4:52 p.m., August 12, 2022. The accident occurred on I-80 near milepost 109 outside of Morris, Illinois.
According to initial reports from Illinois State Police, a 2016 Toyota Corolla, a 2019 Freightliner semi-truck, and a 2022 Freightliner semi-truck were traveling westbound on I-80. At the same time, a 2003 Vovlo semi-truck and another 2022 Freightliner semi-truck were traveling eastbound. The driver of the Toyota Corolla struck the back of the 2019 Freightliner in the left lane, causing the Corolla to travel through the center median and collide with the 2022 Freightliner in the eastbound lane. The 2022 Freightliner then rolled over the center median into the westbound lane and struck the other 2022 Freightliner. The Volvo semi-truck was hit by debris from the accident.
The driver and the passenger in the Corolla were both killed in the crash. No other injuries were reported. The accident caused I-80 to remain closed in both directions for over ten hours.
No further information about the crash was immediately available.
Thoughts on five-vehicle truck accident near Morris
In accidents involving passenger cars and semi-trucks, it is easy to assume the driver of the passenger car must have caused the accident since the cars are easier to maneuver. However, that is often not the case. In the U.S., there are accidents involving semi-trucks every day where the crash was entirely preventable.
Here, at first glance, it appears as though the driver of the Corolla may have been following the semi-truck too closely or was distracted while driving. However, it is equally possible that the semi-truck’s brake lights failed to illuminate when the truck was slowing down, causing the Corolla to strike the back of the truck before crossing the median, which resulted in catastrophic damage. For the families grieving the loss of the passengers in the Corolla, it is important that authorities examine all possible causes of the accident before ascribing fault to one party over another.
All commercial trucking companies are required to maintain their fleet of trucks in a safe, legal manner. Regular inspection of all systems, including electrical systems on semi-trucks, is critical to ensuring the safety of both semi-truck drivers and others who share the roadway with big rigs. If the semi-truck’s brake lights were not properly illuminating as the truck was slowing down in rush hour traffic on I-80, perhaps the driver of the Toyota Corolla had no way to gauge the speed of the semi-truck before it was too late to take evasive action.
Although it is impossible, at this time, to determine the cause of the tragic accident, skilled attorneys experienced in accidents involving semi-trucks may be able to develop a legal strategy to analyze all possible avenues of recovery for the victims’ families. To that end, investigators should carefully examine this crash for all relevant evidence, including anything suggesting the crash may have been prevented by more regular upkeep or closer inspection of the 2019 Freightliner semi-truck.
Our firm sends our condolences to those grieving the loss of the victims in this accident and others who were injured in the pile-up. Should any wrongdoing be revealed here, our firm offers comprehensive legal strategies to explore all possible avenues of remedy for those involved in accidents with semi-trucks.
Disclaimer: Information contained in this blog was compiled from third-party sources and has not been independently verified. Please inform us immediately if false or misleading information is contained in this post.
