Quick Facts:
Where: The accident occurred in the northbound lanes of Interstate 55 in Clear Lake, Illinois.
What Happened: A tractor-trailer operated by a suspected DUI driver allegedly rear-ended a vehicle.
Participants:
- Jeffrey Ekena, driver of car
- Juvenile passenger in car
- Bruce Costello, driver of tractor-trailer
Reported Injuries/Fatalities:
- Jeffrey Ekena, 43, injured
- Juvenile passenger in car, 8, injured
Details:
On or about Sunday, December 5th, 2021, around 5:15 in the afternoon, an accident between a passenger vehicle and a tractor-trailer operated by an alleged DUI driver sent a man and a child to the hospital. Officials from the ISP said the accident was reported along the northbound side of Interstate 55 in Clear Lake, Illinois.
Spokespeople from the Illinois State Police said 43-year-old Jeffrey Ekena and an 8-year-old passenger were injured when the car they were in was allegedly struck from behind by a tractor-trailer driven by 50-year-old Bruce Costello. Paramedics transported Ekena and his young passenger to the hospital with injuries of an unspecified nature or severity.
Officials have since charged Costello with DUI and following too closely in connection with the accident.
According to Google Maps, Interstate 55 runs north and south through Clear Lake, which is situated on the east side of Springfield.
Police are still investigating the incident.