ISP TRAFFIC CRASH ALERT
The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 12
WHAT: Fatal Crash
WHERE: Interstate 70 W/B MP 127, (Cumberland County)
WHEN: 6:24 PM 07/12/2019
VEHICLES: Unit #1 – Blue 2007 Freightliner Truck Tractor Semi Trailer
Unit #2 – White 2015 Freightliner Truck Tractor Semi Trailer
OCCUPANTS: Unit #1 Driver – Filimon Ghebremehari, 34, Seattle WA
Unit #2 Driver – Melissa Coleman, 41, Doniphan MO
PASSENGERS: None
CHARGES: Driver Unit #1 – Violating Minimum Speed Limit
TRANSPORTS: Unit #2 – Driver was transported by Air Evac to Carle Hospital for life threatening injuries.
PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate that Unit 1 was westbound on I-70 near milepost 127, in the right lane at a slow speed, due to a reported vehicle malfunction. Unit 2 was also westbound on I-70 at the same location, also in the right lane. Unit 2 driver attempted to take evasive action to avoid the crash but was unable to do so. Unit 2 struck the towed trailer of Unit 1 with its driver’s side. The driver of Unit 2 was ejected during the collision. The driver of Unit 2 was airlifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana IL and was later pronounced deceased at the hospital.
All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law