Channahon Twp, IL — April 7, 2025, James Donisch was killed following a car accident that occurred at around 6:45 A.M. on I-55.
An investigation is underway into a car accident that left one person dead during the morning hours of April 7th. According to official reports, a Subaru operated by James Donisch was traveling in the area of Arsenal Road and I-55 when for unknown reasons the vehicle lost control and veered into the oncoming lanes where it struck an 18-wheeler head-on.
When first responders arrived on the scene, they found Donisch trapped in the vehicle, after extricating him with the jaws of life found that he had sustained critical injuries, and he was transported to the hospital. At this time there has been no further information released about the accident, however this remains an ongoing investigation and more details may be released in the future.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When I read that a car veered into the path of an oncoming 18-wheeler, one of the first questions that comes to mind is whether there’s any chance the truck driver could have done something to avoid the crash. Now, to be clear, I’m not suggesting they were at fault, but experience tells me that in serious crashes like this, it’s important to understand what everyone involved was doing—not just the vehicle that crossed the line.
In cases like this, it’s common for authorities to focus on the actions of the driver who crossed into the wrong lane, and that makes sense. But to truly understand what happened, the investigation needs to go further. For instance, what was the speed of the truck at the time of the crash? Did the driver attempt to swerve or brake? That information is often stored in the truck’s engine control module, or “black box,” and it can help clarify how the crash unfolded.
Another piece of the puzzle is whether the truck had a dashcam or forward-facing camera. These cameras can help show how quickly the events happened and whether the truck driver had a chance to react. I’ve handled cases where camera footage made it clear that even a careful driver couldn’t have avoided the crash, and others where it showed that more could have been done.
I also want to be clear about something else. Just because a vehicle crosses into the wrong lane doesn’t always mean the driver was careless or reckless. Mechanical failure, road debris, or even a medical emergency could explain a loss of control. That’s why investigators need to gather more than just eyewitness statements—they need to look at the vehicle’s condition, talk to any passengers or bystanders, and review the driver’s recent history.
Too often, people think that once police release an initial report, the investigation is done. But in a crash like this, where someone lost their life, the real work should just be getting started. Getting to the truth takes time, and it takes asking the right questions—starting with, “What evidence can still be found beyond the crash scene?”
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