Truck driver dies in Interstate 55 accident south of Springfield
A 67-year-old man died Thursday in the accident on Interstate 55 in Montgomery County that shut down northbound traffic for much of the afternoon.
Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said Frank Amendola of Somonauk died at HSHS St. John's Hospital at 2:53 p.m. Thursday.
Illinois State Police said Amendola was involved in a two-vehicle crash at 1:04 p.m. on the northbound side of the interstate at mile market 75.5 — about 15 miles south of Springfield. Shortly after the crash, Amendola was transported to St. John's with life-threatening injuries.
In a report, ISP said Amendola, driving a tractor-trailer, was following another tractor-trailer driven by Darin W. Hoener, 46, of Canton, Missouri, as they both were nearing construction zone traffic. The report said as Hoener's vehicle slowed with traffic, Amendola's truck struck the rear of Hoener's vehicle.
Police said the northbound lanes of I-55 were shut down for about five hours in order for crash reconstruction and recovery. Traffic was diverted off the interstate at mile marker 72 near Farmersville.
An autopsy is scheduled for today. State police and the coroner's office are investigating Amendola's death.
This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Truck driver dies in Interstate 55 accident south of Springfield
