A crash on I-57 in the early morning hours on December 8^th left a Gary, Indiana woman dead.

Gary resident Randi Jackson was riding as a passenger in a 1994 GMC Minivan driven by Stephanie Cobb, also of Gary, on the morning of December 8^th in the northbound lanes of Interstate 57.  Around 6:30 a.m., the Manteno Fire Department arrived at the accident scene after receiving a report of a crash near milepost 325.

They discovered that the GMC minivan had crashed into an abandoned pick-up truck on the side of the highway. Jackson was transferred to Riverside Medical Center and died around 11:30 a.m. The 28-year-old Cobb was also taken to Riverside. She was arrested upon her release for aggravated driving under the influence and transferred to Jerome Combs Detention Center.

Many factors can cause an accident. If you or a loved one knows someone who is recovering from an accident caused by a drunk driver, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 to discuss their legal options. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

Early Monday morning, Chad W. Renchen,  a 41 year-old Bourbonnais native, was pronounced dead after being found at the scene of a motorcycle accident.

Discovered on the side of the road by passersby, Illinois state police investigated the scene of the accident, with Kankakee County Coroner Bob Gessner pronouncing Renchen dead at 7:57 a.m. CT. Although the exact cause of death has yet to be determined, officials believe that injuries sustained in the accident are the immediate cause. An autopsy will be performed early Tuesday to further investigate the death.

Being involved in any car accident, particularly a motorcycle accident, can cause the victim and their family extensive suffering and losses. Our thoughts are with the victim’s family members and other loved ones at this difficult time.

The family of a man killed in a motorcycle-and-car crash last year have filed a wrongful death suit against a Channahon man.

George Weikum, 58, was northbound on Route 59 in Plainfield on October 8, 2011. Chanahon resident David Deitrich was heading southbound when he lost control of his 2005 Ford Ranger Pick-Up truck. It struck the median and rolled into the northbound lane, hitting Naperville resident Weikum in the process. Weikum was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Dietrich was charged with aggravated DUI after the accident.

Weikum’s widow and daughter have filed a wrongful death suit against Dietrich and the golf club that served him alcohol before the wreck occurred. Dietrich was at the Tamarack Golf Club in Naperville, working at a golf outing for Victory Baseball 9U Victory Gold. Authorities stated he had been drinking at the event. Victory Baseball has also been named in the suit.

Dietrich is currently awaiting sentencing in his role in the deadly accident.

When a family member is lost in an auto accident, life seems to stand still. If you or a loved one knows someone who has been in a car accident, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 for professional legal advice. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

A motorcyclist lost his life after being struck by a semi-truck on a ramp on Interstate 290 while both vehicles were attempting to get on the ramp at the same time.

The accident occurred on Saturday, October 13^th  around 4:51 p.m. as the motorcyclist was getting on the eastbound entrance ramp of I-290 at Mannheim Road in Hillside. The motorcyclist collided with a semi-truck that was carrying a trailer.

The motorcyclist was pushed against a wall and then he was run over by the trailer. The unnamed motorcyclist was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident at 5:08 p.m.

An accident between a motorcycle and a truck can have tragic results. If you or a loved one has lost a family member in a two-vehicle accident, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 for professional legal representation. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com

A young woman from Campton Hills pled guilty to a 2007 fatal DUI accident in Kane County this week.

Erika Scoliere pled guilty to a misdemeanor DUI in regards to an accident on Randall Road that killed motorcyclist Frank Ferraro, 40, of South Elgin. Scoliere was 18 years old at the time of the accident when she turned left onto Randall Road and Ferraro hit her SUV as he was traveling in the oncoming lane.

Scoliere consented to giving a blood sample at the scene of the accident, and it was later determined that her blood-alcohol level was over the legal limit. She was then charged with an Aggravated DUI.

In the end, Scoliere was given two years probation along with having to wear an ankle bracelet that monitors alcohol consumption. She must also give hundreds of hours in speeches about drinking and driving as well as attend counseling.

An accident affects not only the driver of the vehicle but also anyone in the vicinity. If you or a loved one knows someone who has been injured in an accident with an intoxicated driver, call Spiros Law, P.C., for professional legal representation.  Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

The Dan Ryan Expressway was the scene of a fatal motorcycle/car crash early Thursday morning.

In the early morning hours of August 30^th, motorcyclist Sylvester D. Dickson was traveling northbound on the Dan Ryan. At approximately 5:15 a.m., he rear-ended a 2002 Cadillac DeVille as driver Alonzo Cozart , 16, was changing lanes, which he slowed down to do. There were three other passengers in the car at the time of the collision.

Dickson, a Chicago resident, was declared dead at the scene of the accident. Chicago resident Cozart and his passengers did not report any injuries. Cozart was ticketed for not having a drivers’ license or insurance as well as driving too slow. The expressway was closed until late morning as the accident was investigated and removed.

Accidents can change the make-up of a family in a moment’s notice. If you or a loved one knows someone who has lost a family member in a motor vehicle collision, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 for professional legal representation. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

A Lockport man died after crashing his motorcycle on Briggs Street in Lockport Township late Friday night.

According to the sheriff’s police report, Scott Mulac was driving his motorcycle at a high rate of speed on Briggs Street just south of Oak Avenue. The area is about five miles north of Interstate 80. Around 10:50 p.m., 30-year-old Mulac hit another motorcycle from behind driven by James Labeau of Manhattan.

Labeau, 50, traveled into the ditch on the west side of the road along with his motorcycle. Mulac landed in the roadway while his cycle moved into the ditch on the east side of the road. It appears that Mulac was hit by three other vehicles, the last of which stopped and the driver called 911.

Mulac was pronounced dead at the scene. He was found without a helmut. Labeau was wearing a helmut. He was found to have scrapes on his arm and refused medical treatment. At this time the investigation into the crash by police is ongoing.

When a driver goes at a high rate of speed, they not only risk their lives but put others in danger as well. If you or a loved one knows someone who has been injured by a driver going at a high rate of speed, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 to explore your legal rights. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

Traffic accidents resulting in fatalities are on the upswing for Illinois motorists.

Last week, the Illinois Department of Transportation noted that traffic fatalities in 2012 are up 9 percent from 2011. The reasons why are many. Roughly 10 percent of this year’s fatalities are related to distracted driving, specifically drivers checking text and email messages.

Another group that has seen an increase is fatalities due to motorcycle accidents. To combat this issue, the State Police are initiating a new program called Operation Rogue Rider that targets speeding motorcyclists. They are asking the public to call police whenever they see motorcyclists that are driving too fast.

Lastly, while the poor economy is not seen as a factor as a reason for increase in fatalities, lower fuel prices does contribute to more people being on the road. An increase in traffic leads to more congestion and more opportunities for accidents.

Other factors in the increase are more DUI accidents and wrong-way drivers. One wrong-way accident resulted in the deaths of four people.

Accidents involving motor vehicles can change the make-up of a family and leave occupants of those vehicles in lifelong pain. If you or a loved one knows someone who has been injured in a motor vehicle accident, call Spiros Law at 815-929-9292 for professional legal representation. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.

A 40-year-old Tinley Park man has been cited after a car and motorcycle collision occurred in Kankakee on Monday morning.

According to police officials, the 50-year-old motorcyclist was traveling on Indiana Avenue when he was struck by a car that changed into his lane quickly in order to turn left at an upcoming intersection.

Police arrived at the scene just after 10 a.m. and crews transported the motorcyclist to Provena St. Mary’s in order to be treated for injuries sustained in the collision. The 40-year-old driver was then cited for improper lane usage as a result of the collision.

If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of a motorcycle collision, you need a knowledgeable attorney on your side that may be able to secure the compensation that you deserve for your pain and suffering. Contact the Kankakee vehicle accident lawyers of Spiros Law, P.C., today by calling 815-929-9292.

A Martinton resident was sent to Provena St. Mary’s Hospital on Monday, July 16^th after his motorcycle was hit by a car.

David Memeth, 50, was southbound on Indiana Avenue in Kankakee, just north of Court Street. At the same time Amjad Salemeh, of Tinley Park, was also southbound on Indiana Avenue when he switched lanes quickly in order to make a left turn onto Birch Street.

As Salemeh moved his 1998 Volvo to the left hand lane to make the turn, he hit Memeth’s 2011 Harley Davidson Super Glider. Police were called to accident site around 9:59 a.m. Memeth was sent to Provena St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee where he was treated and released. The 40-year-old Salameh was cited for improper lane usage.

Accidents involving two vehicles can leave long lasting injuries that are not apparent during initial treatments. If you or a loved one knows someone who has been injured in a two-vehicle accident, call Spiros Law to explore your legal options. Visit the website at www.spiroslaw.com.