CHICAGOLAND AREA MAN DEAD AFTER CRASHING INTO CONCRETE VIADUCT
A 26-year-old Homer Glen man died after crashing head-on into a viaduct in Riverdale early Saturday morning. A witness told police that the young man appeared to be asleep at the wheel or maybe texting when he crashed into a viaduct underneath Metra railroad tracks. The crash happened about 6:30 a.m. on eastbound 138th Street at Illinois Street.
The Homer Glen resident was pronounced dead on the scene. He was the only person in the vehicle and was not wearing a seat belt.
While police do not suspect alcohol or speed contributed to the crash, the Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the accident.
Stories like this should remind all of us to be alert when we drive and to always wear our seatbelts. The US Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimated that 37,313 people were killed in motor vehicle traffic crashes in 2008. It's the lowest number of deaths on U.S. roads since 1961. The NHTSA credits this accomplishment with an increased use of seat belts nationwide.
The NHTSA reports that Illinois had a 90.5% seat belt usage rate in 2008. This is a drastic increase from the 71.4% usage rate back in 2001. There is no question that seat belt usage has contributed to fewer deaths on the road and it is my hope that we continue to see a decrease.
My deepest condolences to the family and friends of this young man.
The Law Offices of Jeffrey J. Kroll has an outstanding record of success in car accident litigation. If you have been injured in a car accident, please contact us.
