Illinois Semi-Truck Accident Causes Bridge Collapse
An Illinois interstate semi-truck accident caused major delays Tuesday morning on the Tri-State Tollway. The Chicago area truck accident occurred on the Chicago expressway at mile marker 62 near Libertyville, IL. According to reports, the accident occurred when the truck driver, 36 year old Michael Barak, fell asleep and veered off the toll way. The semi truck was heading northbound when it rolled off the roadway and plowed into concrete beams that were part of a bridge expansion. Large chunks of the beams fell onto Metra tracks servicing the Milwaukee District North Line causing substantial delays for Chicago commuters. According to Illinois State Police Sgt. Carlita Joe, the truck driver was taken to Lake Forest Hospital where he was treated for minor injuries.
The truck came to a stop in an embankment on the side of the Tri-State. The impact of the collision damaged at least four of the sixty foot concrete beams installed as part of the Chicago Tollway widening project. Barak will receive a traffic ticket for the offense however the charges against him have not yet been detailed. Illinois State Police will continue to investigate the accident as the wreckage is cleared and the reconstruction project resumed.
Due to the size of semi trucks and the speed at which they operate on expressways, large truck accidents can be devastating. If you have been involved in a semi truck accident you should retain an Illinois personal injury lawyer to investigate the accident and protect your claim. Chicago truck accident attorney Joseph G. Klest has over twenty eight years of experience litigating truck accidents. Contact the Klest Law Firm for a free initial consultation regarding Chicago truck accident.
