Charges Pending In I-80 Wreck That Killed Joliet Woman: Police

JOLIET, IL — The Illinois State Police has released its preliminary findings related to Tuesday's deadly crash that happened shortly after 6 a.m. along Interstate 80 near Larkin Avenue. The crash shut down Interstate 80 for more than 10 hours as the Illinois State Police's crash reconstruction team was on the site and clean-up crews removed the debris. The fiery three-truck collision claimed the life of 50-year-old Joliet resident Sami S. Guzick.

According to state police, the crash occurred after a disabled truck with a double trailer parked on the right shoulder area of Interstate 80 east bound, near mile marker 129. That truck was operated by a LaGrange resident, Jugoslav Djordjevic, 49.

While his truck was broken down, a replacement truck driven by Guzick responded to assist him. According to police, Guzick parked her truck tractor along he shoulder in front of the disabled truck. Both of them were driving FedEx vehicles. The Illinois State Police say Guzick was outside assisting with the vehicles when an eastbound International Truck Tractor semi trailer veered off the road and onto the right shoulder of Interstate 80. That semi was driven by 46-year-old Douglass Norfleet of Chicago, police said.

According to police, Norfleet's semi struck the rear of the disabled truck, then hit the Joliet woman's truck. It also struck her. Chicago man's semi was subsequently engulfed in the flames. Djordjevic and Norfleet suffered serious injuries and were taken area hospitals. Guzick was pronounced dead at the scene by the Will County Coroner's Office. The crash occurred around 6:10 a.m.

Earlier Tuesday afternoon, the Will County coroner's office referred to the deadly crash as "a multiple motor vehicle mishap." Coroner Patrick K. O'Neil said an autopsy to determine the cause and manner of Guzick's death was scheduled for Wednesday and that funeral arrangements for Guzick were still pending.

The Illinois State Police press release issued after 7 p.m. indicates that "this crash is still under investigation at this time with charges pending."

Throughout Tuesday, the I-80 fatality created major traffic delays on numerous area roads throughout Will County, including as far away as Shorewood at Jefferson Street and the intersection of River Road. At about 5:15 p.m., the Illinois State Police issued a news bulletin announcing that all traffic along Interstate 80 in both directions had finally reopened.

Just before 4:30 p.m., Shorewood police told drivers to expect delays along Route 52 (Jefferson Street) and all east/west roads in the village due to the ongoing accident investigation. "Avoid the area if at all possible," police said in an earlier bulletin. "We have no update as to when the accidents will be cleared on Interstate 80. Use alternate routes, use patience and good judgment."

One Patch reader pointed out that traffic along Black Road, between Route 59 and Essington Road, had come to a halt during Tuesday's morning commute as a result of the I-80 crash. The Illinois State Police issued an initial news release indicating the crash happened at 6:12 a.m. and that traffic was shut down near Houbolt Road. Also as a result, I-80 eastbound was re-routed onto I-55 and Houbolt Road.

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ABC-7 reported that a pair of FedEx trucks were on the right shoulder of I-80 because one of the trucks broke down and another driver arrived to help. Both were then rear-ended by a third semi, causing a large fire to engulf all three of the trucks, the Illinois State Police told ABC-7. One of the FedEx drivers was killed in the collision, the Chicago news station reported. The driver who struck them suffered severe burns and has been airlifted to Loyola.

Photo contributed by Patch reader