Arlington Heights Man Killed In I-55 Crash Near Channahon
CHANNAHON, Ill. (STMW) -- An Arlington Heights man was killed in a four-vehicle crash early Wednesday on Interstate 55 near southwest suburban Channahon.
John R. Hoeppel, 61, was driving an Audi TT Coupe south on Interstate 55 just south of the Interstate 80 interchange when a Nissan Xterra rear-ended the Audi about 6:30 a.m., Illinois State Police Joliet District Master Sgt. Fred Rivera said.
The driver of the Nissan had just crested a hill and could not swerve in time to avoid the slow traffic ahead, Rivera said.
The crash pushed the Audi under the trailer of a Freightliner semi truck in front of it, Rivera said. The Nissan also flipped over, crashing into a Volkswagen Beetle.
Hoeppel, of Arlington Heights, was taken to Presence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, where he underwent surgery and was pronounced dead just after 4 p.m., authorities said.
The driver of the Nissan suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was taken to Saint Joseph Medical Center, Rivera said. The drivers of the semi and the Volkswagen were not hurt.
Police were not releasing the at-fault driver's name, but said the motorist was cited for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Illinois State Police will reconstruct the fatal crash as authorities continue their investigation.
(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
