Monday morning crash takes one life

[August 19, 2014]  LINCOLN - Below is the report from the Illinois State Police regarding a one-vehicle accident Monday morning.  The accident took the life of a Chicago man who was a passenger in the vehicle.  The accident occurred at the Atlanta exit of Interstate 55.

WHAT: 1 vehicle fatal crash

WHERE: S/B I 55 exit ramp 140 (Atlanta Exit)

WHEN: 7:10am 08/18/14 .

VEHICLES: 2006 Chevrolet Trailblazer

DRIVERS:18 yo male West Chicago, IL

PASSENGERS: 30 yo male West Chicago (deceased)

SEATBELTS: Yes

CAUSE: Speed

TRANSPORTS: Driver was transported to Bromenn Hospital Bloomington. Passenger was transported to Memorial Hospital in Springfield.

CONDITIONS: Driver is stable and has non-life threatening injuries. The passenger succumbed to his injuries at Memorial Hospital.

PRELIMINARY: The driver exited S/B I 55 onto exit ramp 140 at a high rate of speed. The driver lost control of the vehicle and entered the west embankment. The rear of the vehicle struck a tree. The vehicle continued another 50 feet and struck another tree. The driver’s side of the vehicle wrapped around the tree and came to final rest. The driver and the passenger had to be extricated from the vehicle by rescue personnel.

CHARGES: Pending the completion of the crash investigation.

[Text received; TERRY CARTER, ILLINOIS STATE POLICE]