Death Of Bolingbrook Man On Weber Road Spurs Lawsuit

A wrongful death lawsuit was filed Thursday in connection with an Oct. 29 motorcycle crash along Weber Road that killed 29-year-old Bolingbrook resident Clifford Ragland.

According to the lawsuit, defendant Victor Zack abruptly decided to make a U-turn along Weber Road near the Crest Hill intersection of Ryan Drive, causing Ragland's motorcycle to collide with Zack's car.
Patch previously reported the fatality occurred on a Monday, around 7 p.m.

"The defendant failed to operate his vehicle with the care and caution for the safety of others when suddenly and without warning he attempted to make a U-turn to proceed in a northerly direction along and upon Weber Road," noted the lawsuit filed by Russo & Russo, the Wheaton law firm representing Ragland's fiancee, Ericka Degerberg.

At the time of his death, Ragland was riding on the motorcycle he owned and operated, heading in a southerly direction along Weber Road, according to Russo & Russo.

No criminal charges or traffic citations have been issued against Zack in connection with the fatality. However, it's not uncommon for local police investigations surrounding traffic fatalities in Will County to last several months.

The lawsuit accuses Zack of several counts of negligence including having "failed to keep a lookout in the direction of travel" and having "turned his vehicle so as to proceed in the opposite direction with such movement could not be made in safety and without interfering with other traffic ..."

Zack, 55, has had multiple traffic violations in recent years, according to Will County court files.
In 2013 and 2016, Zack was cited for disregarding a stop sign in Will County. In March of 2016 and in August of 2016, Zack was cited in Will County for using an electronic communication device while he was driving, court records show. At the time of the second 2016 offense, he was cited for operating his vehicle without insurance.

Zack, court records show, lives on Gavin Avenue in Romeoville.
Ragland lived in Bolingbrook at the time of his death.

He was from Hinsdale, his obituary noted. The Russo & Russo law firm noted that Ragland left behind a 1-year-old daughter and "the decedent's daughter also suffers from the loss of consortium of her father." The lawsuit asks the court to appoint Ragland's fiancee, Erika Degerberg as special representative of Clifford Ragland's estate.

Obituary photo of Clifford Ragland via Sullivan Funeral Home in Hinsdale