Jeff Stephenson, 40, was injured in a collision last Friday north of Sandoval, Illinois, when his car hit a truck that was blocking the roadway.
Stephenson, originally of Shobonier, Illinois, was heading northbound on U.S. Route 51 at 6:27 Friday morning when he collided with a semi-trailer truck driven by Louis Freeman, 39, of Atlanta Georgia.
Freeman’s truck had been blocking the highway while backing into a lot on the west side of the highway. Following the accident, Freeman received a traffic ticket for improper backing, as well as operating a commercial motor vehicle without a valid license.
Although Freeman was uninjured, Stephenson became trapped in his vehicle, and Sandoval Fire and Ambulance were forced to use spreaders to remove him from the car. Stephenson was taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital in Centralia, Illinois, and was later moved to a hospital in St. Louis, Missouri.
The extent of Stephenson’s injuries are unclear, although police reported that he was conscious and responsive shortly after the accident. After the crash, Route 51 was closed for over an hour.
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