Quick Facts:
Where: The accident occurred in the southbound lanes of Interstate 55 in Montgomery County, Illinois.
What Happened: A box truck allegedly collided with the back of a tractor-trailer that was in the process of pulling off the shoulder.
Participants:
- John B. Barnes, driver of box truck
- Michael C. Hegger, driver of tractor-trailer
Reported Injuries/Fatalities:
- John B. Barnes, 56, killed
Details:
On or about Wednesday, November 4th, 2020, around 5:20 in the morning, an accident between a tractor-trailer and a box truck left a 56-year-old man dead. Authorities said the accident happened in the southbound lanes of Interstate 55 near Raymond in Montgomery County, Illinois.
Police said 56-year-old John B. Barnes was killed when the box truck he was driving allegedly struck the rear of an 18-wheeler that was pulling off the shoulder and into the lanes of traffic. Barnes was pronounced dead of his injuries at the scene.
Officers identified the driver of the tractor-trailer as Michael C. Hegger, who did not report injuries after the crash.
Examining the stretch of I-55 where the accident happened shows a four lane interstate, with a wide, grassy median dividing north and southbound traffic. The scene is located about 35 miles south of Springfield.
Illinois State Police are working to determine the cause of the crash.