A fatal accident on an Illinois highway is being investigated by Washington County officials. The two-car crash took place north of Western Avenue on US-41 in Polk.
The initial investigation indicates that an SUV was driving erratically on the southbound side of the highway. The vehicle weaved in and out of lanes before entering the median where it continued before veering dangerously into opposing traffic. The SUV subsequently hit another vehicle head-on.
While the identities of the victims have not been released, it is known that an 82-year-old man in the second vehicle was killed in the collision. The other passenger in that vehicle was his 76-year-old wife. She received non-life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene. The driver of the SUV was a 63-year-old male from Ellsworth. He was taken to Hartford and treated at Aurora Hospital for non-life-threatening injuries as well.
Both the Washington County Sheriff and the county’s Crash Reconstruction Team continue to investigate in hopes of establishing what caused the accident. Such fatal crashes often result in devastating repercussions for the families of those who have died suddenly. Sudden expenditures and emotional duress may just be the beginning of what victims and families suffer. In these times, the knowledge and advice of an attorney may be helpful in wrongful death discussions.
If someone who has died in an accident due to similar negligence demonstrated by another driver or party, the family may consider a consultation with a head-on collision attorney who might aid in establishing a civil suit to receive compensation.
Source: FOX6now.com, “Illinois man killed in head-on collision in Washington County“, Cary Docter, September 19, 2014