The victim of a crash involving two semi’s on I-74 near Goodfield has been identified.
Jeffrey Bryant, 48, of Danville was killed as the semi he was driving collided with a semi that was broken down on eastbound I-74 at milepost 117 around 2:25 p.m. Wednesday, according to Woodford County Coroner Tim Ruestman.
Bryant was pronounced dead at 4:50 p.m. An autopsy is scheduled Thursday.
1470 & 100.3 WMBD/Kristina Leahy
“A semi was broken down in the construction zone. The semi tried to get off the road as much as possible, but the interstate is down to one lane in each direction with construction,” said Illinois State Police Sgt. Tony Halsey. “A second semi tried to pass the broken down semi and they collided, sideswiping each other.”
“As a result of the crash a fire erupted and (Bryant) is deceased,” Halsey said.
The second semi driver was transported to Advocate Bromenn Medical Center in Normal with “non-life threatening injuries,” according to Halsey.
1470 & 100.3 WMBD/Kristina Leahy
I-74 remained closed in both directions between the Goodfield exit and the Mitsubishi Motorway exit until about 3:00 a.m. Thursday for investigation and cleanup.
“The downfall the construction zone is that is one lane in each direction about ten miles, so there were hundreds, if not thousands of vehicles in the construction zone already,” Halsey said. “We had to get those turned around and diverted out of that.”
State Police were assisted by the Department of Transportation, Deer Creek-Mackinaw Fire Department and Deer Creek Police Department for traffic control.
The Red Cross was on the scene at the request of State Police to provide water for first responders and stranded motorists. Heat index was near 100 degrees at the time of the accident.
