Vandalia, IL (August 11, 2020) – A man was killed and a woman injured following a single-vehicle collision in Vandalia Township on Sunday afternoon, August 9. According to local sources, the crash occurred on West Main Street at around 1 p.m.
The 75-year-old man driving on West Main Street when he lost control of the vehicle west of Fayette County Road. The vehicle veered right and left the roadway before overturning in a nearby creek bed. The driver, identified as Burl Prater, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.
The female passenger was transported to a nearby medical facility for the treatment of sustained injuries. The injured passenger was later identified as 52-year-old Patricia Bales, also from Vandalia. At this time, no updates on her condition have been provided.
An ongoing investigation into the cause of the accident is being investigated by local law enforcement officials, and more information on the crash will be released as it continues.
We would like to offer our deepest condolences to the family of Burl Prater at this time. Our thoughts are with the injured victim and her family in hopes of a full recovery.
Fatal Car Accidents in Illinois
People are killed and seriously injured in vehicle collisions across Illinois each day. According to data from the Illinois Department of Transportation, there were a total of 281,788 reported collisions across the state in 2011. That is an average of 772 collisions taking place each day. There were 835 fatal collisions reported that year, contributing to the deaths of 918 people. That is an average of two deaths happening each day. There were 84,172 reported injuries resulting from Illinois car accidents in 2011, with nearly nine people dying every hour across the state. Of those injured, nearly 12,000 sustained debilitating injuries that left them unable to walk or perform routine tasks as they once could.
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.
