A man from Charleston lost his life after his motorcycle collided with a deer in Lerna, Coles County, Illinois. The Coles County Sheriff’s Office said in a press briefing that the accident occurred on Monday afternoon, June 15th, and the victim was Joseph Stewart, 43.
The accident report disclosed that the victim was traveling on County Road 300N east-west Lerna Road, about two miles east of the village. At about 2 p.m., Stewart collided with the deer after the animal ran into its path. The impact ejected the motorcyclist from his bike, leaving him injured.
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The CCSO said that first responders used an air ambulance to convey the victim to Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana, where he later died of injuries. There is no additional information.
Animal sighting is one of the causes of accidents, especially on rural roadways. Most of the auto-animal collisions occur when wildlife suddenly appears on the road, and drivers try to avoid it by swerving. This type of accident is preventable if road users follow safety tips for driving on rural roads.
They include staying aware and alert when driving and don’t swerve to avoid an animal as it can lead to losing control of the vehicle or colliding with another automobile or stationary object. At night or during the early hours of the morning, use high beam lights, avoid all forms of distractions, and drive within the speed limit to allow braking in time to avoid a collision.
Disclaimer: The Safety Watch article you just read includes information obtained from numerous sources. These sources include, but are not limited to, websites and press releases from law enforcement, the county coroner, fire departments, and other news outlets. While we strive to provide readers with the most accurate information, sometimes the information received is not entirely accurate. For complete details, please refer to an official police report.
The articles published contain sensitive subject matter that may be hard to read by some. We understand that losing a loved one is hard and devastating. Safety Watch’s decision to share the stories is to help others who may be facing the same situations by providing appropriate resources to the general public.