NAPERVILLE (June 9, 2020) – On Saturday at 7:30 p.m. the Naperville Police Department responded to the intersection of Royce Rd and Lisson Rd. in Naperville for the report of a wrong-way car accident. Responding units observed two vehicles that appeared to be involved in a head-on collision.
Frank P. Qualtier Jr., 54, of Bolingbrook, crossed over into the eastbound lanes of Royce Rd. with his 2014 Dodge Ram and struck a Ford Fiesta driven by a 41-year-old Woodridge man, head-on. The Dodge Ram rolled over several times before coming to a rest upside down. The driver of the Ford Fiesta was declared deceased at the scene and later had to be extricated from the vehicle.
47% of Illinois vehicle fatalities involve alcoholThe Bolingbrook driver is facing DUI and reckless homicide charges. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates 47% of Illinois motor vehicle fatalities involve alcohol.Reckless Driving on the Rise
Excessive speeds and reckless driving have become more prevalent across the nation due to less vehicles on the roadways as some drivers view this as opportunity to engage reckless driving. As we recently wrote, crash fatalities are up 11% in Illinois during Covid-19 according to a National Safety Council report.
Ken Kolosh, the council’s director of statistical reporting and estimating systems, said “A big part of this is likely an increase in risky driving during the COVID-19 crisis. Some drivers are seeing the open roads as opportunity to speed and engage in other risky driving behavior.”
Avoiding risky driving behaviors is one way we can all do our part. Obeying traffic laws and staying out of car accidents, and therefore hospitals, allows health care workers to focus their efforts on treating COVID-19 patients.
When to Contact a Car Accident Lawyer
If you’ve been injured in a Chicago area car accident caused by reckless driving or a driver under the influence, contact our law firm at (630) 684-2332. You’ll receive a free consultation with nationally recognized personal injury lawyer, Mario Palermo, with the best approach to obtaining compensation for you or your loved one’s injuries.