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| State Police Say Be Careful When Driving |
The first major snowfall of the season in Illinois is blamed for four fatal accidents, and a state trooper says remembering to practice careful driving habits can help prevent those types of tragedies on the highways.
Authorities say six people died in the accidents, all of which happened on Monday when several inches of snow made driving treacherous in some places. One of the crashes about 10 miles southeast of Peoria killed an elderly couple, two Chicago women died in a wreck in DeKalb, one woman was killed in Champaign and a 21-year old Bloomington man died near Lincoln when his vehicle slid and collided with a truck.
Numerous drivers in the Galesburg area struggled with snow packed roads that resulted in vehicles sliding off into ditches or accidents. No serious injuries were reported.
Illinois State Police Master Sergeant Brian Ley says the first batch of wintry weather of the year always leads to several accidents, some of them bad, and authorities are prepared to handle them. "We have seen our first substantial snowfall of the year, and like always, it takes a good snowfall for motorists to realize that the roadways are slick and it's very important to reduce your speed and allow more time to travel to your destination," Ley said.
Ley recommends checking the forecast and road conditions before heading out in inclement weather. He says wearing your seat belt is a must, and don't tailgate or change lanes quickly.
Figures from the state police show the number of traffic fatalities in Illinois so far this year are down by 209 compared to last year. Ley says 108 people died last December alone on the state's roads. |
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| 12 04 08 by Newsroom |
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