Manhattan Township, IL – A tragic accident on Wilmington-Peotone Road resulted in the death of a Peotone man and injuries to several others on Thursday afternoon.
The Will County Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies responded to the crash site, located roughly one mile east of Cedar Road, at approximately 4:23 pm, following calls about a severe two-vehicle collision with entrapped passengers.
The preliminary investigation suggests that the accident occurred when a 21-year-old female, driving a Ford Escape eastbound, attempted an ill-fated turn through a farm field entrance after missing her intended exit at Cedar Road. This action placed her directly in the path of an oncoming Lincoln MKX, leading to a catastrophic head-on collision. The impact caused significant front-end damage to both vehicles involved.
Emergency responders from the Manhattan Fire Department extricated a 12-year-old female passenger from the Ford, who was later airlifted to Chicago Lurie’s Children’s Hospital following initial treatment at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee. The current state of her health has not been disclosed. The Ford’s driver sustained injuries described as non-life-threatening.
The collision also inflicted grave injuries on the occupants of the Lincoln.
The driver, a 68-year-old woman, received treatment for severe hand injuries, among other assessments. Her passenger, 37-year-old Phillip Murray of Peotone, was extracted from the wreckage with significant injuries and, despite urgent medical attention, was pronounced dead shortly after arrival at Silver Cross Hospital.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing however the driver at the Ford escape has been cited for improper lane usage.
