IKEA Picketer Hit By Semi-Trailer After Refusing To Get Out Of The Way, No Citations Issued: Joliet Police

JOLIET, IL — Monday marked a hostile environment at Joliet's massive IKEA warehouse off Laraway Road as more than 100 employees took to the picket line to strike for better wages and working conditions. Then, the incident was overshadowed when a semi-trailer struck one of the IKEA employees who was known to be picketing.

According to Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English, at 12:10 p.m. Monday afternoon, officers responded to the IKEA Distribution Center, 650 Emerald Drive, for a report of a traffic crash involving a pedestrian and a semi-truck.

Upon arrival, the officers located a 41-year-old man who was being evaluated by Joliet Fire Department paramedics. The man reported he had been struck by the front of a semi-truck. English said the officers then spoke with the 39-year-old driver of the semi-truck, who claimed the man, who was participating in picketing activity at the facility, stepped in front of his vehicle before falling to the ground.

"As part of the investigation, officers reviewed surveillance video of the incident," English revealed.

He said the 41-year-old man was transported by the Joliet Fire Department to Silver Cross Hospital with injuries believed to be minor. No citations were issued in connection with the incident, which occurred on private property.

Meanwhile, on Monday night, Catherine Segar, public relations manager for IKEA U.S., reached out to Joliet Patch to explain that the afternoon incident that sent one of the protesters to the Silver Cross Hospital did not involve any type of supervisor affiliated with IKEA.

"We've reviewed footage of the incident, and it shows an unidentified vehicle — not linked to any IKEA leader, manager, or personnel — approaching our checkpoint, turning around before the entrance, and being stopped by people standing in the street," Segar explained. "The footage doesn't show any physical contact between the vehicle and anyone in the street. We can't identify who the driver was, but we can say with confidence it was not an IKEA supervisor or an IKEA-affiliated vehicle.

"IKEA respects our co-workers' right to engage in lawful, protected activity, and we equally respect the right of any co-worker who chooses to come to work. We're committed to maintaining an environment of mutual respect and ensuring all co-workers' rights are protected, and the safety of our co-workers remains our top priority."