JOLIET, IL — A total of 26 people have died over the past three years in the city of Joliet as the result of traffic fatalities. There have been only four fatal traffic crashes so far this year in the city of Joliet, according to data obtained by the Joliet Patch from the Joliet Police Department. In comparison, 14 people were killed from traffic crashes in 2024.
In 2025, there were a total of eight traffic deaths.
Two of the tragedies involved small children or teenagers riding ATVs. One double fatality, believed to be a heart attack, involved a Joliet husband and wife dying after crashing into a neighborhood tree at full speed not far from Joliet Catholic Academy. One Joliet senior citizen lost his life crossing the street on Joliet's east side when a city of Joliet public works truck collided with him.
Several of the traffic fatalities happened along Route 53 where all the semi-trailer traffic is coming and going from the dozens of warehouses and distribution centers.
Here is a re-cap of those tragedies:
June 22
As for the four traffic fatalities this year, the last one happened on June 22, it was the collision that ended the life of 17-year-old motor bike rider Devin Davis of Minooka at the intersection of Jefferson and Hickory Street in front of the old Joliet Catholic High School property. On June 22, at 8:38 p.m., officers responded to West Jefferson Street and North Hickory Street for a traffic crash with injuries.
According to police, the 17-year-old boy was piloting a Honda dirt bike eastbound on West Jefferson Street approaching North Hickory Street alongside two other dirt bikes. According to witnesses, Davis disregarded a red light and entered the intersection, where he was struck by a Chevrolet Impala driven by Maxie Robinson, 38, of Joliet.
Robinson was driving north on North Hickory Street, and police believe he had a green light at the time of the crash, police said. Davis was ejected from the dirt bike in the crash.
After initial impact, the Chevrolet Impala also struck an unoccupied vehicle that was legally parked on North Hickory Street. Davis sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said that the two other people on dirt bikes stopped at the intersection before the crash.
May 25
On Memorial Day night, Joliet Patch reported at the time, a motorist driving the wrong way on Jefferson Street — including over the Jefferson Street Bridge — was responsible for causing a major wreck leaving two people critically injured.
According to police spokesman Tizoc Landeros, minutes past 9:30 pm, an officer saw a gray Honda coupe traveling the wrong way westbound on Jefferson Street near the Will County Courthouse. The officer tried to stop the Honda by activating the squad car's emergency lights and sirens.
However, the Honda continued westbound over the Jefferson Street Bridge. The Honda accelerated away from the officer while continuing to drive in the oncoming traffic lanes on
Jefferson Street past Hickory Street and Center Street.
Landeros said the Honda increased its speed and pulled away from the officer before ultimately crashing into a black Chevrolet Equinox. Officers arrived on scene and rendered First Aid to both drivers. Joliet Fire Department paramedics responded and transported both drivers to Saint Joseph Medical Center. At the time, the driver of the Honda was awaiting air transport to another hospital. Both drivers were listed in critical but stable condition, Landeros said at the time. Joliet Patch traffic fatality statistics now indicate that someone named Jorge Garay Alcantar, age 20, died from a May 25 crash at Jefferson and Garfield Avenue.
May 5
A 73-year-old Joliet woman died after suffering life-threatening injuries following Tuesday afternoon's major crash at Black Road and Essington Road, Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English revealed. The Will County Coroner's Office identified the victim as Marilyn Hertko.
According to police, at 4:18 p.m., officers responded to Black Road and Essington Road for a multi-vehicle crash with injuries. A Subaru Forester driven by the 73-year-old Joliet woman was traveling eastbound on Black Road approaching Essington Road.
"It is alleged that the Subaru entered the intersection at a high rate of speed and struck a Chrysler Pacifica driven by a 53-year-old Joliet woman that was northbound on Essington Road making a left turn on a green traffic arrow toward westbound Black Road," English said.
After the first collision, police said the Subaru struck a Ford Explorer driven by a 53-year-old Joliet man and a Jeep Liberty driven by a 32-year-old Joliet man. Both vehicles were stopped northbound on Essington Road at the red light at Black Road. The Subaru then rolled over before coming to rest, according to police.
February 21
The Joliet Police Department announced that an overnight crash at Route 6 and Houbolt Road ended the life of 21-year-old Joliet passenger Jayden Norris. According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 2:46 a.m. that Saturday, the officers responded to Channahon Road and Houbolt Road for a crash with injuries.
A Mercury Grand Marquis, driven by a 20-year-old Joliet man with a 21-year-old Joliet man as a passenger, was traveling eastbound on Channahon Road approaching Houbolt Road. According to English, Joliet police believe the Mercury disregarded a red traffic signal and struck a semi-tractor trailer driven by a 68-year-old Palos Park man that was traveling northbound on Houbolt Road through the intersection on a green traffic signal, according to witnesses.
The 20-year-old driver of the Mercury was taken by a Joliet Fire Department ambulance to St. Joseph Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. The passenger of the Mercury was discovered unresponsive by officers and pronounced dead at the scene by the Will County Coroner's Office.
The driver of the semi-tractor trailer was not injured.
Below is a rundown for all the traffic fatalities that Joliet police handled in 2025 and 2024:
March 15, 2025: 1000 Mission Boulevard, victim juvenile, initials JA
At 5:04 p.m., Joliet police officers responded to the 900 block of Mission Boulevard for a crash involving an all-terrain vehicle. A 6-year-old boy was driving a REX110 ATV northbound on the sidewalk between the 900 and 1000 block of Mission Boulevard with an 8-year-old boy as his passenger, according to police.
The ATV lost control and struck a tree, ejecting the 6-year-old boy from the vehicle. Joliet Fire Department paramedics took him to Ascension St. Joseph Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:33 p.m., according to the Will County Coroner's Office.
April 9, 2025: Essington and Caton Farm Road, victim Susan Wallace, age 78,
Joliet police say that a Buick Enclave driven by a 71-year-old Joliet man, accompanied by Wallace, was northbound on Essington Road approaching Caton Farm Road in the left turn lane around 7:45 a.m. The Buick proceeded to make a left turn toward westbound Caton Farm Road and was struck on the passenger side of the vehicle by a Ford F-150 driven by a 19-year-old Crest Hill man going southbound on Essington Road.
The occupants of both vehicles were taken to St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department. Wallace died at the hospital.
April 16, 2025: Cass Street and Garnsey Avenue, victim Francisco Bibian, age 57. No news media coverage anywhere.
June 6, 2025: Westminster Road, victims Norman and Beverly Wetherbee.
Hours after a 67-year-old Joliet man died when his Jeep struck two trees and rolled over in the front yard of a Westminster Road home, his passenger, a 75-year-old woman, was pronounced dead at Prime St. Joseph's Medical Center, the Will County Coroner's Office said. The coroner identified the man as Norman J. Wetherbee and the woman as Beverly J. Wetherbee. The crash happened just before 6 p.m. on a Friday in the 1100 block of Westminster, police said.
June 14, 2025: Magnolia and Black Road, victim David Nelson, age 57
A 57-year-old Plainfield man was killed near Black Road and Magnolia Drive in Joliet, the Will County Coroner's Office said, identifying him as David Lee Nelson. Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said that at 6:54 p.m., the Buick Regal driven by a Nelson was westbound on Black Road approaching Magnolia Drive. The Buick veered left into an eastbound lane of Black Road, striking an eastbound Buick Encore driven by a 68-year-old Joliet woman.
The first collision caused the Buick Regal to then strike a Chevrolet Silverado driven by a 26-year-old Joliet man going eastbound on Black Road, according to English.
Nelson, the driver of the Buick Regal, was taken to Prime St Joseph Medical Center, where he died.
Sept. 12, 2025: Route 53 and Schweitzer Road, victim Adam Weathers age 28
A 28-year-old Joliet man lost his life in a 1 p.m. wreck along South Chicago Street and Schweitzer Road involving a semi-tractor trailer. The Will County Coroner's Office of Laurie Summers identified the victim as Adam Weathers.
According to the Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, a Kenworth tractor-trailer driven by a 54-year-old Cumming, Georgia man was exiting a private business in the 3400 block of South Chicago Street, facing eastbound. The tractor-trailer initiated a left turn toward northbound South Chicago Street and collided with a Chevrolet Sonic driven by Weathers going southbound on South Chicago Street. He was ejected in the collision.
Oct. 1, 2025: Route 53 and Dollar Tree Drive, victim Adam Sigler, age 40.
Adam Sigler of Wilmington died and his 2-year-old child who was his passenger remained in serious condition following Sigler's crash with a semi tractor trailer that was turning into traffic along Route 53 at the Dollar Tree Lane.
According to police spokesman Dwayne English, at 10:22 p.m., the officers responded to Route 53/South Chicago Street and Dollar Tree Lane for a crash with injuries.
A Volvo semi tractor-trailer driven by a 58-year-old man from Orland Park was eastbound on Dollar Tree Lane when he tried to make a left turn onto northbound Route 53. The truck crossed into the path of a Dodge Dart driven by the 40-year-old from Wilmington who was traveling south on Route 53.
The Dodge struck the trailer and came to rest beneath it. The driver of the Dodge was pronounced dead at the scene by the Will County Coroner's Office. A 2-year-old boy, who was secured in a child safety seat in the backseat of the Dodge, was extricated from the vehicle and transported in serious condition to St. Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department
Jan. 25, 2024: Larkin and Ingalls, fatality victim Connor Ward. No news media coverage anywhere.
Feb. 15, 2024:Route 53 and Sharp, victim Robert Roach Jr.
A young man from Indiana lost his life on the southern edge of Joliet after his car rear-ended a semi-trailer that was stopped with its hazard lights flashing along Route 53 in the vicinity of the Chicagoland Speedway and West Sharp Road.
Joliet's officers responded to the southbound lanes of Route 53 north of West Sharp Road for a traffic crash with injuries shortly after 5:30 a.m. A Western Star 4900 semi-tractor with trailer, driven by a 62-year-old resident of Manitoba, Canada, was stopped in the curb lane of southbound Route 53 when a southbound Chevrolet Cobalt, driven by an Indiana resident, collided into the rear of the semi truck's trailer.
The semi truck's hazard lights were activated, and that the semi's driver had come to a complete stop in the lane of traffic to check his GPS, prior to the crash.
Will County Coroner Laurie Summers announced that the crash victim was 32 years old, and his name was Robert Roach Jr. of Munster, Indiana.
Feb. 18, 2024: Double fatality at Black Road and Infantry Drive, husband and wife victims Walter Kretzler and Roxanne Holt.
In July 2025, reckless homicide defendant Jacoby Hamilton, 19, pleaded guilty for his crash that took the lives of a Joliet husband and wife in February 2024. The 19-year-old accelerated through the red light in the middle of the night without headlights, fatally striking married couple Walter Kretzler, 65, and Roxane Holt, 59.
May 22, 2024: Cass Street and Herkimer, Hector Castillo-Esparaza
The Joliet Police Department announced that the 75-year-old male pedestrian injured during this week's crash on the city's east side has died. The victim was Hector Castillo of Joliet.
Joliet police announced that at 11:03 a.m., officers responded to East Cass Street and Herkimer Street for a vehicle versus pedestrian crash. A city of Joliet Utilities employee, 54, of Elwood, was driving a city-owned Ford F350 pickup truck southbound Herkimer Street at East Cass Street.
The F350 initiated a left turn toward eastbound Cass Street and struck the pedestrian who was walking northbound across Cass Street in the crosswalk, at the east side of the intersection.
June 8, 2024: Washington and Ottawa Street, Brian Stotts
The Joliet Police Department announced that Brian Stotts, the person killed in downtown Joliet when a semi-tractor trailer ran him over, was 51 years old and no criminal charges or traffic citations were issued in connection with the incident.
The semi driver was tracked down by Joliet police later on Saturday, and he had no knowledge of running over the 51-year-old New Lenox man. Joliet Patch discovered that the 51-year-old man was just let out of the Will County Jail at 3:36 p.m., according to the jail records. He had been incarcerated for three days in connection with an order of protection violation, his fourth stint inside the jail since 2020.
June 19, 2024: West Jefferson and Airport, Peter Graff.
A Ford Ranger truck driven by 72-year-old Peter Graff of Lombard was heading west on West Jefferson when it hit the rear passenger side of a Jeep Grand Cherokee driven by a 44-year-old woman from Shorewood. Police say the woman was also driving west on West Jefferson Street in the inside lane.
Graff's Ford truck also struck the rear driver's side of a Tesla 3 driven by a 38-year-old Naperville man, who was also heading west on West Jefferson Street in the curb lane, according to police.
After hitting two cars, Graff's truck then drove between the Jeep and Tesla and swerved into oncoming eastbound traffic, striking an eastbound Pontiac Torrent driven by a 22-year-old Rockdale man head-on, English said.
Graff was taken by Joliet paramedics to Ascension St Joseph Medical Center, where he died.
Aug. 5, 2024: Hadrian Drive and Howland, Violeta Lara.
The Joliet Police Department announced that the 18-year-old girl who crashed an all-terrain vehicle earlier this month in the Plainfield area has died in Chicago at Northwestern Memorial Hospital. The victim was identified as Violeta Lara of Joliet. Joliet police previously said that on Aug. 4, at 5:29 p.m., officers responded to Howland Drive and Hadrian Drive for a crash involving an ATV.
A preliminary investigation determined Lara was driving the ATV, and she had a 15-year-old boy riding behind her as the passenger. The ATV overturned while attempting to make a turn at the intersection, causing both Lara and her 15-year-old passenger to fall off the ATV.
Aug. 22, 2024: Ingalls and Larkin, Luke Pruss Knotts
The Joliet Police Department responded to a deadly motorcycle crash at 6:48 p.m. at the intersection of North Larkin Avenue and Ingalls Avenue. Will County Coroner Laurie Summers identified the fatality victim as Luke Pruss-Knotts.
Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English said that a Toyota Camry driven by a 23-year-old Joliet man was northbound on North Larkin Avenue at Ingalls Avenue, waiting to turn left toward westbound Ingalls Avenue. The Toyota initiated a left turn and collided with a Harley Davidson XL1200 motorcycle operated by the 19-year-old Joliet teenager going southbound on North Larkin Avenue.
The collision caused the motorcycle driver to be thrown to the ground.
Aug. 23, 2024, Larkin and Taylor, Gentry Smith. No news media coverage anywhere.
Oct. 6, 2024: 219 South Larkin, bicycle rider Donald Shiner Jr.
The lengthy Joliet Police Department investigation into the hit-and-run fatality of 56-year-old avid Joliet bicyclist Donald "Donny" Shiner revealed that a married couple from Morris had just left Sidelines Sports Bar on West Jefferson Street at 2:47 a.m. before the crash.
Joliet police officers were notified that Shiner was found lifeless in the road along Larkin Avenue at 2:57 a.m. on Oct. 6, 2024. No arrests were made for nearly two years.
Then, this past July, 36-year-old Morris resident Armand Melendez Jr. was booked into the Will County Jail after the Will County State's Attorney's Office of Jim Glasgow charged him with failure to report an accident involving a death.
Oct. 24, 2024: Jefferson and Reedwood, Dyjahn Porter.
The Will County Coroner's office identified the 19-year-old man killed in a motorcycle crash on Jefferson Street as Dyjahn T. Porter of Joliet. According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 5:43 p.m., officers responded to the area of West Jefferson Street and Reedwood Drive for a crash with injuries. Porter was driving a Suzuki GSXR 1000 motorcycle eastbound on West Jefferson Street approaching Reedwood Drive, police said. The Suzuki collided into a Nissan Rogue driven by a 19-year-old woman from Romeoville. According to English, she was turning westbound on West Jefferson Street from Northbound Reedwood Drive.
Dec. 14, 2024: Fourth Ave and South Chicago: Robert Redmond
More than three months after a 62-year-old Joliet man lost his life crossing the street near the entrance to Joliet's downtown area, Joliet police announced they have solved the crime arresting 40-year-old James Deal of Joliet and 36-year-old Dominique Kennedy of Aurora.
According to the press release, following an extensive investigation, Joliet detectives identified Deal as the driver of a Chevrolet Malibu that struck and killed 62-year-old Joliet resident Robert Redmond during the evening hours of Dec. 14, 2024, at Fourth Avenue and South Chicago Street.
Police say Deal did not stop after the crash or report it.
Dec. 31, 2024: Larkin and Vernon Avenues: Joy Gaines
On the last day of the year, Joy Gaines, a 55-year-old Joliet woman who was outside walking on the city's west side, was killed along Larkin Avenue when she was hit by a car before sunrise.
Joliet police said the crash happened at 5:29 a.m. According to police spokesman Dwayne English, officers responded to the intersection of North Larkin Avenue and Vernon Avenue for a traffic crash involving a pedestrian. A Nissan Sentra driven by a 25-year-old Joliet man was northbound on North Larkin Avenue approaching Vernon Avenue in the inside lane, at which time the Sentra struck Gaines, who appeared to be crossing the roadway at the time of the crash.
Gaines was brought to the nearby St Joseph Medical Center by the Joliet Fire Department, where she died.
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