Jefferson Street Extrication, Car Smashes Light Post

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Fire Department extricated a young man from his car Wednesday afternoon after he lost control and struck a city light post near the corner of West Jefferson Street near Nicholson Street.

Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey told Patch the crash happened at 2:15 p.m. A fire department ambulance took the driver to Silver Cross Hospital. He was conscious and in stable condition, the chief added.

The afternoon wreck scattered significant debris across the 500 block of West Jefferson Street, just down the hill from the Saint Patrick's Cemetery. The city light post was toppled.

Two women who live across the street from the crash told Patch they have complained to city officials that section of West Jefferson Street is dangerous because so many drivers are speeding in both directions.

"This is ridiculous,"one of the women remarked as the Rendel's Towing company arrived to remove the smashed car. "What if somebody had been walking down the street? There has to be something they can do with that street."

Blaskey said the crash victim was a man in his 20s. The Joliet Fire Department sent Company 5, Truck 1, Ambulance 1 and battalion chief 1 to the scene.

The Joliet Police Department posted officers at the top of the hill, directing motorists into the Cathedral Area neighborhood near Raynor Avenue while crews were investigating the wreck.