Fatal Rollover Car Wreck In Lockport Township

There was a fatal rollover car accident Saturday night (December 26, 2015) in Lockport Township. The driver of the car was later charged with DUI.

According to the Will County Coroner’s Office and the Illinois State Police (ISP), the crash happened at approximately 7:30 p.m. The car, with a driver and a passenger, was reported by witnesses to be traveling southbound when it left the roadway for unknown reasons near Route 171 and Nobes Avenue. The car rolled over onto its roof after hitting the curb and a couple of fixed objects.

The passenger in the car, identified as Joseph O. Essary, 33, of Joliet, was briefly pinned under the vehicle. He was extricated and taken to Silver Cross Hospital for treatment of his accident injuries. He was later pronounced dead.

The driver of the vehicle was identified as Jamie Walsh, 30, of Joliet. She was injured and hospitalized, and later charged.

An excerpt from the December 27, 2015 Daily Southtown article titled “Woman charged with DUI in fatal Lockport Township crash“:

Walsh was charged with felony aggravated DUI, along with driving on a suspended license, improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed, according to Will County jail records. She is due to appear Monday at the Will County courthouse, records show.

Additional details and possible updates concerning this Will County fatal car accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the Daily Southtown article mentioned above, as well as the December 27 Joliet Patch article titled “Update: Rollover Wreck Kills Joliet Man.”

Car Crashes Into DuPage River In Channahon

There was a Will County car accident Wednesday (December 23, 2015) in which a car went into the DuPage River in Channahon.

According to Channahon Police, they were alerted to the accident at approximately 11:00 a.m. The car went off the roadway near Shepley Road and Canal Road after the driver thought she saw boulders on the roadway and swerved to avoid them.

The car then left the roadway and went down a 12-foot cliff into the river. The woman was rescued by the Channahon Fire Department.

The driver was identified as Emily E. Scott, 18, of Joliet. She was the only vehicle occupant at the time of the accident. While it is unclear as to whether she was injured during the crash, she declined medical treatment.

An excerpt from the December 23, 2015 mysuburbanlife.com article titled “Car falls into DuPage River in Channahon, Joliet driver not injured,” quoting Channahon Police officer John Blough:

Blough said Scott does not have a driver’s license and was charged with driving without a license, driving without insurance, improper display of registration and failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. She was released on bond.

Additional details regarding this Channahon accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the mysuburbanlife.com article mentioned above, as well as the December 24 Channahon-Minooka Patch article titled “Driver Crashes into DuPage River in Channahon After Swerving After Swerving to Miss Boulders.”

“T-Bone Collision” In Bolingbrook

Car and vehicle accidents have the potential to cause many types of accident injuries. Among these injuries are those to the head, neck and spinal column. These injuries can be caused by any number of factors, including “whiplash.”

A Will County car accident today (December 18, 2015) resulted in an injury in which one person incurred neck pain and was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation and treatment. The accident happened in Bolingbrook and occurred during a “t-bone” collision.

The accident is summarized in the December 18, 2015 Bolingbrook Patch article titled “Driver Hospitalized for Neck Pain After T-Bone Crash.” Details on the accident and its causes appear limited at this time.

Additional details regarding this Will County car accident can be seen in a variety of media sources, including the Bolingbrook Patch article mentioned above.

Will County Road Hazards

One of the potential hazards that motorists face is that of traffic hazards. These traffic hazards include any number of potential conditions, including large potholes. Large potholes can not only damage the tires and rims of vehicles if they are hit, but also, in some cases, cause a loss of control of the vehicle, which can lead to an accident.

Large potholes are of increasing concern due to aging roadways. As well, in winter, large potholes are more likely to develop, due to various factors such as plowing and freeze/thaw cycles.

One large pothole that developed in Will County was discussed in the January 12, 2015 post titled “I-55 Emergency Pothole Repair Near Bolingbrook.”

Other road hazards include structural problems in bridges. A hole in a bridge deck caused an immediate lane closure on Wednesday, December 16, 2015, on southbound Interstate 55 (I-55), on the bridge over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railroad. That bridge is about four miles south of Channahon.

Additional details and possible updates can be seen in a variety of media sources, including IDOT as well as the December 16, 2015 Channahon-Minooka Patch article titled “Lane Closure for Emergency Bridge Deck Patching” and the December 16 Morris Herald-News article titled “Southbound I-55 near Channahon reduced to 1 lane for emergency bridge repair.”

Recent Will County Truck Accidents

A number of truck accidents have occurred in Will County over the last few days. As seen in various news sources, these accidents are being attributed to various factors, including a truck driver driving too fast for conditions and a truck’s cargo being not distributed properly.

One accident is discussed in the December 2, 2015 Bolingbrook Patch article titled “Semi Strikes Median, Minivan Causing Rollover.” In this Romeoville accident, a semi dump truck traveling southbound on Joliet Rd. going onto Route 53 struck a median and then a minivan, which rolled over, that was waiting to make a right-hand turn to continue on Route 53. The two occupants of the minivan, a man and woman, were injured and taken to hospitals for treatment of their accident injuries.

The Daily Southtown article of December 2, 2015, titled “Two semi-truck accidents underscore dangers,” discusses two truck accidents and an earlier (2014) fatal truck accident.

Additional details and possible updates can be seen in the articles mentioned above.

Winter Weather Driving Tips

On December 1, 2015, the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) issued a press release titled “‘Winter Weather – Get It Together’.” (pdf) This press release discusses safety tips and recommended actions to take in response to impending winter weather and the adverse driving conditions that will arise.

Two excerpts from the release:

“With temperatures dropping and some of the state already experiencing a first blast of winter, drivers should be aware of what they can do to keep safety their No. 1 priority,” said Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn. “That means buckling up, slowing down, increasing traveling distances, and preparing to stay home if the weather is bad. By remembering the basic winter driving skills, together we can make this winter the safest one ever on Illinois roads.”

also:

“Motorists should take every precaution to be prepared when traveling Illinois roadways this winter,” said Illinois State Police Col. Tad Williams. “Reduce speed and avoid unnecessary travel during winter storms. Always check the latest weather condition information on your radio or television before heading out. Keep a charged cell phone with you whenever possible and let someone know where you’re going,”

The press release also offers a number of tips and suggested actions for safe winter driving. Among those suggestions include driving at slower speeds in adverse weather and to be free of distractions like handheld devices.

Additional details can be found in the IDOT press release mentioned above.

Past posts on Will County traffic safety and driver safety issues can be seen found in the “Traffic Safety Issues” category.