Man Ejected In I-80 New Lenox Crash: Coroner

NEW LENOX, IL - The Illinois State Police has released its preliminary investigation surrounding Thursday's 4 a.m. motor vehicle fatality along Interstate 80 in New Lenox Township. According to the Illinois State Police, a 2005 Toyota 4Runner, driven by Joliet resident, Randy Mahoney, 43, was headed eastbound on I-80, east of Interstate 355 in the center line, when it swerved to avoid a 2011 KIA Soul that was stationary in the center lane. The KIA was facing northbound and Illinois State Police say they don't know why the KIA was stopped and had its lights turned off.

The Joliet man's Toyota struck the front driver's side of the KIA, which was being driven by Aaron Scofield, 31, of Chicago. Scofield was immediately ejected from his vehicle upon impact, the state police said.

Scofield was pronounced dead around 4:45 a.m. at the nearby Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox.

An autopsy for Scofield was scheduled later Thursday to determine the preliminary cause and manner of death, according to the Will County Coroner's Office.

State police said that Mahoney was also taken to an area hospital for treatment of his injuries.

"Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction Unit is currently investigating this crash," the State Police press release noted.

File Image via Shorewood Patch