FAYETTE CO., Ill. - A chain-reaction crash involving eight vehicles on I-70 westbound, approximately a mile east of Vandalia, proved fatal for a man from Louisiana yesterday.
Illinois State Police in District 12 said the fatal crash occurred at 2:20 p.m. yesterday (Wednesday, June 20), at 2:20 p.m.
Preliminary investigative details indicate that a white 2018 International semi-truck being driven by Robert A. Todoran, 42, of Hammond, Louisiana, was traveling west on I-70 at approximately one mile east of Vandalia at milepost 64, where traffic was stopped due to road construction. Todoran failed to reduce speed to avoid accident and struck a silver 2014 Ford Fusion being driven by Jon P. Wingo, 27, Springfield, causing a chain reaction involving a total of six vehicles as follows:
A tan 2013 Freightliner semi-truck, being driven by Carlos Perez, 45, Bronx, New York;
A black 2017 Western Star semi-truck, being driven by Benjamin B. Booker, 50, Eden, Ontario, Canada;
A silver 2015 Freightliner semi-truck, being driven by Peter O. Lingenfelter, 50, New Castle, Pennsylvania; and
A red 2018 Peterbuilt Semi-truck, being driven by Kenneth C. Woodhouse, 45, Cedar Key, Florida.
Todoran’s semi left the roadway and traveled down an embankment, where the trailer became engulfed in flames. Todoran was pronounced deceased on scene by the Fayette County Coroner.
Three were transported to Fayette County Hospital: Wingo and two passengers in his vehicle, a female juvenile, 14, and Rachael M. Wingo, 51, both of Brownstown.
The crash remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit, the Illinois State Police Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section, the Fayette County Coroner’s Office and Illinois State Police District 12.No citations have been issued.