Trucker Charged With Killing 5 On I-55 Pleads Not Guilty

The Indiana trucker charged with killing five in a horrific crash on Interstate 55 near Elwood pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Tuesday morning.

Francisco Espinal-Quiroz, 51, of Leesburg was indicted two weeks ago on 15 counts of reckless homicide.

Five people—a man, three women and an 11-year-old girl—died after the Espinal-Quiroz’s allegedly speeding semi-trailer pushed three cars into another truck as they entered a construction zone near Elwood.

There was no indication Espinal-Quiroz applied his brakes prior to the crash, Will County State’s Attorney’s Office spokesman Charles B. Pelkie said in July.

Kimberly K. Britton, 43, of Urbana; Piper Britton, 11, of Urbana; Vicky L. Palacios, 54, of Coal City; and Ulrike P. Blopleh, 48, of Channahon, died in the July 21 crash. A fifth victim, 64-year-old Timothy Osburn, was seriously hurt and died of his injuries on Aug. 6.

The indictments allege that Espinal-Quiroz was speeding through a construction zone; that he failed to keep a proper lookout for vehicles stopping or slowing in a construction zone; that he failed to decrease his speed when a special hazard existed; and that he had physical conditions that limited his ability to drive safely.

One of those physical conditions is a complete loss of vision in Espinal-Quiroz’ right eye due to a 1984 injury, Pelkie said.

Espinal-Quiroz could face between six and 28 years in prison if he’s convicted. He is scheduled to be arraigned on the indictments on Sept. 9, and remains in the Will County jail on $1 million bond.

He was previously been indicted on two felony counts of falsifying his log book.

Espinal-Quiroz was scheduled to appear before Judge Daniel Rozak on Oct. 22.

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