Details have emerged following a head on two semi tractor trailer traffic crash we told you about yesterday in Wayne County. Illinois State Police have released the preliminary crash report. The accident happened at a quarter after 9am Thursday on US 45 near County Road 690 North.
According to officials, a 2020 white Freightliner driven by 27 year old Azamat Pardaev of Brooklyn, New York was traveling north. A previous accident at the location caused a utility pole and telephone pole to fall across both lanes of Highway 45. Several vehicles were stopped in the northbound lanes due to the obstruction. As Pardaev came over a hill, he noticed the stopped vehicles and due to how far they were backed up wasn’t able to slow in time. Pardaev swerved into the oncoming lane to avoid the stopped vehicles. In doing so, he struck head on a 2005 Red Western Star Semi driven by 73 year old Wayne Fatheree of Flora.
Featheree was subsequently taken by helicopter to an Evansville hospital with what troopers described as non life threatening injuries. The New Yorker was ticketed for Improper Lane Usage. Highway 45 remained closed into the mid afternoon while crash investigators worked the scene and clean up crews did their jobs.
