Illinois State Police are reporting that a two-vehicle accident with injury occurred on April 12, at 3:03 a.m. The incident happened along Interstate 294 close to mile marker 20. The accident involved 44-year-old Joliet resident Jermaine Leverston and 66-year-old Valley City, Ohio resident Keith Mercek.
The preliminary reports indicate that Leverston was driving a 2018 white Ford Fusion southbound in the northbound lanes of Interstate 294. He then created a head-on collision with the 2017 white Volvo semi-truck that was heading northbound at that same time on 294 near the mile marker 20.
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Leverston and Mercek were both taken to area hospitals with injuries that were considered to be non-life-threatening. There are no current updates on the drivers at this time. They are expected to survive.
The northbound lanes were shut down until approximately 4:17 a.m. At that time, two of the right lanes of northbound traffic were restored while the cleaning continued. The roadway was reopened entirely around 5:24 a.m.
The reason for Leverston driving on the wrong side of the interstate has not been established at this time. The investigation will uncover if Leverston was impaired at the time of the accident. There is a possibility that drugs or alcohol played a role in this accident.
Police are still investigating the accident. No charges have been brought against Leverston at this time, pending the completion of the investigation.
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