WHITESIDE COUNTY, Ill. — One person is dead after a crash in rural Rock Falls Wednesday morning, authorities say.
Officials responded to the intersection of Route 40 and Route 172 shortly after 9:20 a.m. on April 3 for a two-vehicle accident. According to the Whiteside County Sheriff's Office, a farm tractor pulling a grain cart was traveling on Route 40 when it began to make a lefthand turn onto Route 172. A semi, which was also traveling northbound on Route 40, moved into the other lane to pass the tractor but the vehicles collided at the intersection when the tractor tried to turn.
The tractor driver, who has been identified as 41-year-old Matthew Miller of Rock Falls, did not survive the crash, according to officials. The semi driver, 39-year-old Gustavo Cervantes of Crest Hill, Illinois, was transported to a local hospital for treatment and was later released. The sheriff says he was issued a citation for improper passing within 100 feet of an intersection.
Route 40 was shut down for around six hours Wednesday as officials worked to move the vehicles. The crash remains under investigation.
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