Bond set at $1M for truck driver in fatal I-55 crash that killed 4. Truck driver Francisco Espinal-Quiroz had been behind the wheel of his semi for almost 12 hours when he sped through a construction zone on I-55 and struck several cars, killing four people

Francisco Espinal-Quiroz is charged with felonies in connection with a fatal crash on I-55 near Arsenal Road.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

 

ELWOOD, Ill. (WLS) -- 

 

Truck driver Francisco Espinal-Quiroz had been behind the wheel of his semi for almost 12 hours when he sped through a construction zone on I-55 and struck several cars, killing four people, prosecutors said.

Bond was set at $1 million for Espinal-Quiroz. He faces two felonies for allegedly falsifying his log book and lying about his drive time in connection with Monday's fatal crash in southwest suburban Elwood.

During the bond hearing, the 51-year-old truck driver appeared via closed circuit TV. Prosecutors argued he lied to officers on Monday, telling them he began driving at 6:30 a.m. when he had really started four hours earlier- at 2:30 a.m.

"I'm not going to comment on how we ascertained that," Will County State's Attorney spokesman Charles Pelkie said.

Despite abundant signage warning drivers to slow down, Illinois State Police say Espinal-Quiroz was speeding in his semi-truck when he abruptly changed lanes and struck several vehicles stopped in a construction zone near the Des Plaines River Bridge on I-55 at 2:15 p.m. Monday.

There's no indication he hit the brakes, prosecutors said.

Espinal-Quiroz is a U.S. citizen born in Honduras. He listened to a translator in court, but did not speak. He is the sole driver for the firm of Espinal Trucking out of Leesburg, Indiana, which he owns.

He has no criminal record, but since 1991 he's accumulated at least 12 traffic and license violations, which include speeding tickets, driving an overweight truck, and driving without a proper commercial license.

In court Monday, prosecutors said Espinal-Quiroz has "disability or handicap with his vision that may have factored into the crash." They would not elaborate on that, but say other charges are possible.

"The investigation is continuing, and we will review the information as it comes in. Other charges are possible," Pelkie said.

Victims mourned in Coal City, Urbana and Channahon

Three women and a girl were killed in the crash. They were identified as Kimberly K. Britton, 43, of Urbana; Piper Britton, 11, of Urbana; Vicky L. Palacios, 54, of Coal City; and Ulrike P. Blopleh, 48, of Channahon.