Update (February 254, 2025): Authorities have identified the two people killed in this crash as Richard Wayt, 77, and Kathleen Wayt, 63. The crash is still being investigated.
Will County, IL — January 30, 2025, two people were killed and four others were injured in a truck accident at about 11:20 a.m. on U.S. Route 45.
Authorities said two cars and a garbage truck were involved in a crash south of Offner Road.
Two people were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near Peotone, according to authorities, while four others were hospitalized with unspecified injuries.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash or those involved in it at this time.
The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When I hear about a crash involving multiple vehicles, my first question is, “What chain of events led to these vehicles colliding?” Many people might assume that a large truck like this was the primary cause, but in my experience, these crashes often involve multiple factors that need to be carefully examined.
One of the first things investigators should determine is where the garbage truck was positioned at the time of the crash. Was it actively stopping to collect waste, merging into traffic or already in motion? Garbage trucks operate differently from other commercial vehicles: they make frequent stops, sometimes unexpectedly, and can block traffic while doing their job. If the truck was stopped or slowing down, other drivers may not have had enough time to react.
Another key factor is visibility. Garbage trucks are large, but they also have blind spots and can be difficult for approaching drivers to see clearly, especially if they are stopped in or near traffic lanes. Investigators should determine whether the truck was properly marked with hazard lights or reflective signage and whether its placement on the road contributed to the crash.
Speed and following distance should also be examined. Were the other vehicles traveling at an appropriate speed for the conditions? If traffic was slowing or stopping for the garbage truck, did one driver fail to react in time, setting off a chain reaction? I’ve seen cases where drivers were caught off guard by a sudden slowdown and rear-ended another vehicle, pushing it into a larger truck.
At this stage, too little is known to say exactly what caused this crash. That’s why a thorough investigation is necessary, one that looks at the movements of all vehicles, the positioning of the garbage truck and whether any drivers had enough time to react safely. Without that level of scrutiny, key details could be overlooked, leaving unanswered questions about how this wreck happened. The families of those affected deserve answers to all of their questions about this crash.
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