I-55 Fatality: 52-Year-Old Man Identified By Coroner

JOLIET, IL — One 52-year-old motorist from Maywood was killed during an overnight wreck that happened along the southbound stretch of Interstate 55 near the Jefferson Street exit for Joliet and Shorewood. The Will County coroner identified the fatality victim as Maurice Burkley.

According to the Illinois State Police: troopers responded to the fatal motor vehicle crash involving a 2004 Chevy Camry and a 2007 Peterbilt truck tractor semi-trailer around 2:20 a.m.

Both vehicles were traveling on Interstate 55 southbound near milepost 252. The semi was stopped due to intermittent lane closures for construction. The front end of the passenger car struck the rear end of the semi, state police announced in Wednesday's news release.

The man from Maywood was the only person in his car, and he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The southbound lanes of Interstate 55 were closed for about five hours for the investigation; all lanes were reopened at approximately 6:10 a.m. There is no further information available at this time, state police noted.

Illinois State Police said the Peterbilt truck was driven by a 36-year-old man from China Hills, California. There was no indication the semi driver suffered any injuries in the crash.