WAYNE CO.―According to Illinois State Police (ISP), a fatal traffic crash occurred early this morning at 5:36 a.m., ( Monday, April 29, 2013) at U.S. Rte 45, north of Wayne County 1200 N.
The crash involved Ronald Trent Mckinney, 49, of Bluford, driving a 2005 freightliner semi-tractor pulling tanker trailer and Clifford A. Hooper Jr., 65 of Geff, who was driving a 2012 Chevrolet pickup truck. There were no passengers in either vehicle, but Hooper was not wearing his seatbelt.
According to the preliminary traffic crash investigation, McKinney was northbound on U.S. Rte 45 when he came to a stop in the roadway and was attempting to back into an oil lease road on the east side of 45. His semi was blocking both lanes of 45 when Hooper was southbound on 45 and struck the semi in the left front with his pickup truck. Hooper was pronounced deceased at the scene by Wayne County’s coroner’s office.
District 19 was assisted at the scene by the Wayne County Sheriffs Department, Wayne County Ambulance Service, Fairfield Fire Department, Fairfield Rural Fire Department, Geff Fire Department, Wayne County Coroner’s Office, Rick’s Towing and Barry’s Towing.
McKinney is uninjured and has been charged with Improper Backing and Improper Lane Usage. The crash is currently under investigation.