On Thursday, December 8th, at 7:07 p.m. District 1 Troopers responded to a vehicle crash on I-88 eastbound milepost 34 in Whiteside County. Jerry O. Ansong, 42, of South Chicago Heights, was traveling on I-88, left the lane of traffic and struck a disabled 2014 Peterbilt with semi-trailer on the shoulder occupied by Gene L Graber, 56, of Wellman, IA then subsequently struck a 2007 Ford roadside service truck occupied by William S. Stephenson, 35, of Tampico which was providing roadside assistance to the disabled truck tractor. Ansong’s vehicle came to rest in the right lane and caught fire.
Ansong was cited for Improper Lane Usage, Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid an Accident, Improper Passing of a Disabled Vehicle, Driving a Commercial Vehicle while Fatigued.
The following agencies assisted on scene: Whiteside County Sheriff Department, Rock Falls Police Dept, Illinois Dept of Transportation, Rock Falls Fire Dept, Sterling Fire Dept, CGH Ambulance and Cantrell’s Towing.
The public is reminded that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
