Marion Co, IL (August 20, 2020) – Three people were killed and two others sustained injuries in a car accident in Marion County on Wednesday afternoon, August 19. The collision reportedly took place on Interstate 57 SB near the Kinmudy area at around 4:50 p.m.
According to reports from the Illinois State Police, 41-year-old Ezell Smith from Green Bay, Wisconsin was traveling south on the highway at a high rate of speed at the time of the accident. Initial reports revealed that the vehicle left the roadway to the right before colliding with a tree.
Smith and two of her passengers, identified as 40-year-old Sherie Simmons and 63-year-old Mattie Simmons, both of Sledge, Mississippi, suffered fatal injuries and were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. Two other passengers from Carthage, Mississippi were airlifted from the scene to Cardinal Glennon Hospital in the St. Louis, Illinois area for treatment of sustained injuries.
The vehicle was reportedly traveling from Wisconsin to Mississippi according to local sources. At this time, the cause of the crash is still unknown.
An ongoing investigation into the crash is currently underway, and more details will be released as it continues.
We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the families of Ezell Smith, Sherie Simmons, and Mattie Simmons at this time. Our thoughts are with the injured victims and their families in hopes of a full recovery.
Deadly Car Accidents in Illinois
Vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death for Illinois residents. According to the statistics from the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were 311,679 car accidents reported in the state in 2017, with 998 collisions resulting in fatal injuries that year. In 2011, there were 835 fatal car crashes reported in Illinois, resulting in the deaths of 918 people. That is an average of two people dying daily in car accidents. Nationwide, speeding has been involved in nearly one-third of reported traffic fatalities over the past twenty years.
The grief and devastation of losing a loved one due to another’s negligence are nearly unbearable. Surviving family members often take on damages resulting from the accident, and they may be able to recover lost compensation by pursuing a wrongful death claim with the help of an experienced Illinois personal injury attorney. In an Illinois wrongful death claim, a representative of the decedent’s estate — usually a close family member — seeks damages from those at fault for the person’s death to obtain compensation for damages.
At Kent M. Lucaccioni, Ltd., we understand the grief and pain that families experience when a family member is killed. While no amount of money can bring back a lost family member, an Illinois wrongful death lawsuit can help families address the financial difficulties associated with the accident. Our legal team is dedicated to making sure that each of our clients recovers the compensation they deserve after losing a loved one. Contact our offices today at 877-930-2551 to see what our Illinois wrongful death lawyers can do for you.
Note: As a result of the secondary sources that were used to complete this post, the information included within has not been independently verified by our own staff and may include misinformation. If you read something that, to your knowledge, is incorrect, please contact us as soon as possible and we will correct the inaccuracy.
Disclaimer: As members of the local Chicago and broader Illinois community, we hope everyone in our community is safe and protected. We cover the events included in this blog as a way to offer support to the victims in similar circumstances and to provide relief during these difficult times. This is not a solicitation for business, and this information should not be misconstrued as medical or legal advice. You should speak with a trained legal professional for more information regarding your situation. The photographs depicted in these posts are not representative of the actual accident scene.
