Crime & Safety
17-Ton Truck Runs Over Graves at Veterans Cemetery
Police said the driver acted "cavalier" and "casual" about the incident in the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery.
Photo courtesy of Safe Roads Illinois
ELWOOD, IL — A truck driver acted “casual” and “cavalier” after running over six marked grave sites at a U.S. military veterans cemetery Monday in Elwood.
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Elwood Police Chief Fred Hayes told the Chicago Sun-Times that maintenance crews atAbraham Lincoln National Cemetery saw an 18-wheeler make a U-turn on the property and just missed several headstones.
“This is a travesty that demonstrates a complete lack of respect to our veterans when truckers ignore signs, illegally drive through a national veterans cemetery and run over this sacred burial ground,” Hayes told the paper.
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The 43-year-old Chicago man was driving for Marko Transport Inc., which said in a statement that the act was not deliberate and the driver and company are sorry.
“We have been in contact with representatives for the Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery since the moment of the occurrence. We intend to make full restitution for any and all damages,” the company said in a statement, as reported by the Sun-Times.
Cemetery director Sean Baumgartner told WGN this is the worst property damage he’s seen at the cemtery.
A company spokesman said road closures were to blame for the driver being unable to get to a shipping facility and ending up at the cemetery at Route 53 and Hoff Road, which is near inland trucking port CenterPoint Intermodal Center.
Police said the semi-tractor trailer weighed 17 tons,well over the limit for the roads near the cemetery, reports WGN News. The driver was issued citations for being over the weight and length limits and for spilling debris on the roadway.
Hayes told the Sun-Times there were partial lane closures, but noted that the driver passed several “no trucks” signs, as well as one for a weight limit.
“He had a very casual, cavalier attitude about the situation,” Hayes told the paper.
A full assessment of the damage won’t be completed until spring, where criminal charges could be filed if any grave collapses.
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