Stockton, Illinois - Child Killed, 2 Other People Injured in Suspected Drunk Driving Crash

Drunk Driving Crash Leaves Child Dead, 2 Adults Injured in Northwest Illinois

Attorney Commentary: In the second part of this story, lawyer Brian Kent will discuss the legal rights of drunk driving crash victims and their families.

A child was killed and two adults were injured in a suspected drunk driving crash involving a pickup and a semi-truck in Jo Daviess County, Illinois on Tuesday.

According to the Jo Daviess County Sheriff’s Department, they received a report of a crash on U.S. Highway 20, roughly a half-mile from the intersection with Stockton Drive, at around 6:33 a.m. on June 2, 2020.

Deputies suspect that a pickup truck driven by 32-year-old Julius S. Jones was driving westbound on Highway 20 and crossed a center line. A semi traveling eastbound attempted to avoid the pickup, but the two vehicles collided and caught fire.

Two juvenile passengers – a 10-year-old and 9-year-old – were ejected from the pickup. The 10-year-old died at the scene. The 9-year-old was airlifted to Mercy Hospital in Rockford and then brought to the American Family Children’s Hospital in Madison, Wisconsin.

Jones was charged with DUI, driving while license revoked, and improper lane usage. This investigation is ongoing.

Legal Rights of People Hit by Drunk Drivers in Illinois

Attorney contributor Brian Kent represents people who have been injured by drunk drivers and the families of those killed in drunk driving crashes. Here are some thoughts from Brian on the legal rights of drunk driving crash victims in Illinois:

Drunk drivers endanger everyone they encounter on the road while behind the wheel, and the decision to drive drunk often results in serious or fatal injuries to others. When a drunk driver causes a crash that causes injuries or deaths, the victims and their families should be aware that they have legal rights.

People affected by drunk driving crashes can file a personal injury lawsuit or wrongful death lawsuit against the driver who caused the crash. Additionally, in Illinois and several other states, there are dram shop laws that allow alcohol vendors to be sued for some types of drunk driving crashes caused by customers.

According to Illinois dram shop law, someone injured by an intoxicated person can sue an alcohol vendor who supplied the alcohol for personal injury, property damage, and damage to means of support or loss of society.

The requirements for a successful dram shop lawsuit are as follows:

• the person responsible for causing the injury was intoxicated when the injury happened,
• the vendor provide alcohol to the intoxicated person, who consumed it,
• the alcohol consumption caused his or her intoxication
• the injuries were at least partly caused by the intoxication. and
• as a result, the injured person suffered personal injuries or property damage.

If you or a loved one has been injured or killed in a drunk driving crash in Illinois, you can learn more about your legal options in a free consultation.

Source

https://www.kcrg.com/2020/06/03/dubuque-10-year-old-killed-two-others-injured-in-alleged-drunk-driving-crash/