One person was killed and another injured in a head-on wreck Thursday afternoon on U.S. 30 in Lee County, according to authorities.
Forty-one-year-old Cecilio Flores, a resident of Shabbona, died from wounds suffered in the crash, which occurred at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday, the Illinois State Police reported. The other driver involved in the crash, 57-year-old Phillip Hatland, of Ottawa, also was injured, car accident reports state.
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Flores at about 1:30 p.m. Thursday was westbound on U.S. 30 near U.S. 251 when he lost control of his SUV, troopers said. Car accident reports state Flores’ vehicle drifted across the highway’s centerline and into the path of an oncoming semi-tractor trailer.
The SUV and the semi collided head-on, troopers said. Flores was killed as a result of the crash, emergency responders noted in car accident reports.
The semi’s driver, Hartland, was injured in the crash, though his wounds were described as minor by the Illinois State Police. Troopers did not provide an updated condition report Friday afternoon.
Car accident reports released Friday do not say what caused Flores to lose control of his vehicle. Troopers did not say whether they suspect the involvement of other factors, such as excessive speed or the use of intoxicants.
The crash still is under investigation by the Illinois State Police, the Lee County Sheriff’s Department and the Lee County Coroner’s Office. Investigators worked at the scene for several hours, prompting a lengthy shutdown of the highway, sheriff’s department officials reported.
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