Man Killed Pickup-Semi Crash on Rt. 53
The 68-year-old Ivesdale man was pronounced dead at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center; two others were injured.
A 68-year-old man was killed Thursday night when his pickup truck was T-boned by a semi-trailer truck at Chicago Street/Route 53 and Schweitzer Road in Joliet.
Charles M. Tabaka, of Ivesdale, Ill., was pronounced dead at 9:01 p.m. at Provena St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.
Two passengers in Tabaka's truck were also injured, Joliet Police Chief Michael Trafton said. One was airlifted to Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood in very serious condition and the other was being treated for numerous broken bones at Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.
Tabaka was in town for the NASCAR races and staying at the track's campground, Trafton said. The group was going out to dinner and Tabaka was attempting to make a left-hand turn from Schweitzer onto southbound Route 53 when he pulled in front of the semi truck, which was headed northbound on Route 53, the chief said.
The semi driver attempted to swerve away but ended up T-boning the driver's side of Tabaka's pickup, Trafton said.
It's not known if alcohol might have played a role in the accident. The results of toxicology are pending, Trafton said.
That intersection was the site of a fatal motorcycle accident earlier this year and a collision that resulted in very serious injuries last year, Trafton said. The intersection is a two-way stop, with stop signs only on Schweitzer Road.
KG
11:49 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
I wonder how many accidents it will take before they put up a stop light..
Robert Guthrie
11:54 am on Friday, September 14, 2012
That is the 3rd person killed there in less than a year, put in a stop light already!
Chester Rook
2:08 pm on Sunday, September 16, 2012
I feel bad for this man and his family. I really do. As the article says, there are no results back yet on whether or not this man had been drinking prior to the accident. That said, maybe we should wait before demanding a $30K-$140K stop light up at that intersection. I have been at that intersection many times and never had a problem. However, each time I was at that intersection I was sober. I am not accusing this man of being intoxicated, but drunks don't always abide by stop signs or right of ways. I doubt a stop light would be any different.
Cyndi Pridemore
5:21 pm on Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Wow, Mr. Rook.! That is wholly inappropriate ! Why not wait to pass judgment. He was a close friend and exclassmate of a friend of mine and lived 12 miles away. He has a wonderful family and they are devastated. Any inference to drinking and especially being a drunk is premature, unwarranted and makes me question why you wrote it. Are u a serial blogger, just look for these stories? Have some compassion.