Four, including multiple IDOT workers, hospitalized following crash on East Morton

By Gary Scott on February 27, 2018 at 6:22am

Four people, including two IDOT workers, were hospitalized in what could have been a much more serious accident yesterday afternoon on East Morton Avenue.

Shortly’ after 3 p.m. yesterday, Illinois State Police District 9 responded to a call on East Morton Avenue near the intersection of Mobil Road.

Preliminary crash investigation reports say that 86-year old Dale Gibbs, of South Jacksonville, was traveling westbound on Morton Avenue in a White 2011 Chevrolet Silverado as he approached Mobil Road. Simultaneously, a White 2008 Ford Truck owned by the Illinois Department of Transportation, or IDOT, and driven by 47-year old Craig Manley, of Roodhouse, was parked idle in the right lane of travel near Mobil.

According to reports from Illinois State Police, Three IDOT workers and occupants of the 2008 Ford were standing behind the Ford truck conducting maintenance operations on the roadway when Gibbs’ Chevrolet failed to yield, eventually striking two of the IDOT employees as well as the rear of the Ford  IDOT truck. The three IDOT pedestrians were 67-year old David Nergenah and 62-year old Bruce Bartlett, both of Jacksonville, and another 64-year old male whose name has yet to be disclosed.

Following the crash, Gibbs, Manley, and the two IDOT pedestrians who were struck, were all transported to local hospitals for treatment of their injuries.

Traffic on Morton Avenue was shut down for several hours as emergency crews cleared the scene. As of now, no charges have been given out. The incident, however, remains under investigation.