Plainfield Man Killed In I-80 Crash

MINOOKA, IL — A man from Plainfield was killed in a crash Friday involving three semi-trucks and an SUV, Illinois State Police said. The man was identified as 61-year-old Gregory N. Hartwig.

Police said that at around 3:40 p.m., a white 2021 Volvo semi-truck was stopped in traffic in front of a white 2006 Volvo semi-truck on eastbound I-80 just west of Ridge Road. A Mack semi-truck and a Toyota SUV were behind the 2006 Volvo semi.

For unknown reasons, police said that as traffic came to a stop in the right lane, the driver of the 2006 Volvo semi failed to reduce speed and hit the back of the 2021 Volvo semi. The Mack semi-truck driven by Hartwig then hit the back of the 2006 Volvo semi-truck. The driver of the Toyota SUV swerved to avoid hitting Hartwig's Mack truck and hit the concrete median barrier, police said.

Hartwig was extricated from his truck and was taken to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

The driver of the 2006 Volvo semi, a 54-year-old Chicago man, was taken to an area hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. He was also cited for following too closely and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident. The driver of the 2021 Volvo and the Toyota SUV were not injured.

The right lane of I-80 and the exit ramp to Ridge Road were closed to traffic until around 7 p.m., state police said.

Traffic officials recommend drivers use U.S. Route 6 to avoid the area.

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