2nd Victim Identified In Fiery Will County Crash

Two people died early Sunday morning in a fiery collision with a semi tractor-trailer in Manhattan Township. The driver of the car has been identified as 22-year-old Eric R. Seely of Monee. The passenger, 27-year-old Daniel B. Ligas of Tinley Park, was also pronounced dead at the scene, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.

On Sunday night, Will County Sheriff's Deputy Chief Tom Budde told Joliet Patch that sheriff's police were notified of the crash at 2:58 a.m. The driver of the semi-tractor tractor told police that Seely's car was traveling at a high-rate of speed and Seely barreled through the stop sign at Wilmington-Peotone Road. In doing so, Seely's black Lincoln went underneath the semitrailer and was pinned under the rig, police said.

The semi ultimately came to a stop about a quarter-mile down the road, west of Cedar Road.

"The vehicle was underneath his rig, on fire, and both occupants were dead at the scene," Budde said.

Budde said it was his understanding that police still do not know the passenger's identity, but they believe Seely's passenger probably lived in the Monee area, since that's where Seely lived.

The autopsy and toxicology screenings should determine whether alcohol or drugs contributed to Seely's crash.

Image via Joliet Patch