COAL CITY, IL – James Pheal, a 44-year-old Aurora resident, has been identified as the driver who died in a two-car crash on Route 113 on Monday.
Grundy County Coroner John Callahan provided the identity after an officer from the Grundy County Sheriff’s Office attempted to pull over Pheal’s vehicle in the vicinity of Route 47 and Route 113. Pheal then fled east on Route 113 and attempted to pass another car near Higgins Road when he collided with a ComEd truck nearly head-on.
Following the collision, Pheal’s car rolled several times before coming to a stop in the south ditch of Route 113. Emergency responders pronounced him dead on the scene.
Meanwhile, the driver of the ComEd truck was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
Illinois State Police are investigating the crash, which caused the shutdown of Route 113 between Higgins Road and Campbell Road for several hours to allow for cleanup and investigation of the scene. The Coal City Fire Protection District also responded to the accident.
