Bicycle Dropped On I-80 Led To Fatality: State Police

SHOREWOOD, IL - Saturday's fatal wreck along Interstate 80 in Troy Township stemmed from debris that had fallen into one of the westbound lanes. The Illinois State Police District 5 said Friday that it continues to do additional crash reconstruction as it investigates the death of Mark L. Booth, a 61-year-old commercial truck driver from Princeton, IL. The collision was reported to the State Police at 11:48 a.m.

The preliminary investigation has determined that a 35-year-old woman from Whiting, IN, was driving west along Interstate 80 shortly before noon when she came upon a bicycle that apparently fell off another west-bound vehicle. State Police said the Indiana woman swerved to avoid striking the bicycle, in doing so, she lost control of her Chevy Impala. Her car spun out several times near mile marker post 126. Moments later, Booth's westbound semi tractor-trailer struck the Chevy Impala's passenger side door, police said. From there, Booth's truck veered off I-80 and came to a rest in the ravine, where the truck started on fire. Besides the Illinois State Police, the Troy Township Fire Department responded to the scene, and Booth was pronounced dead at the scene.

At this point, the identity of the motorist who lost the bicycle from their vehicle remains unknown, according to State Police. The Indiana woman, along with her 53-year-old passenger, were taken to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet and treated for non-life-threatening injuries, police said.

State Police say they continue to investigate the fatal crash as they determine whether criminal charges are warranted.

File Image via Patch