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| Distracted driver Gary D. Rollins, of Crystal River, Florida. Mugshot of Gary Rollins via Will County Sheriff's Department |
CHICAGO, IL (CBS) — Two IDOT contract workers were injured late Thursday night when a motorist slammed into a road work zone in Joliet.
Illinois State Police said the crash happened in the westbound lanes of Interstate 80 near Briggs Street shortly before midnight.
Police said a 35-year old motorist admitted he was using his phone in some way — just how was under investigation — when his 1996 model Ford pick-up truck hit an electronic arrow board that had been steering motorists clear of IDOT maintenance work in the area.
The equipment was pushed into two maintenance crew workers who, according to state police, were hooking up to a truck to take it away. The workers are employees of an IDOT contractor, and had been part of a street sweeping crew.
One of the workers was last reported in serious condition at Silver Cross Hospital. The other worker was treated for his injuries at the hospital and released.
Police said the driver is 35-year-old Gary Rollins, of Florida, and had been working in the Chicago area. Rollins has been charged with felony aggravated reckless driving. He also was ticketed for speeding in a construction zone and using a phone in a construction zone.
Rollins was taken to Will County Jail to await a bond hearing.
Here is some info on Mr. Rollins from his Facebook pages:
Intro
Worked at Jacks Fries
pathfinder reg. voc. tech. h.s.
Pathfinder Voc / Tech
Lives in Crystal River, Florida
It's complicated
From Ware, Massachusetts
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JOLIET – Illinois State Police say a distracted driver caused the injury of two construction workers Thursday night.
Gary D. Rollins, 36, of Crystal River, Florida, was heading west on Interstate 80 at about 11:54 p.m. in a construction zone near Briggs Street when his 1996 Ford F-350 struck a digital sign board, which then struck two construction workers nearby.
“The preliminary investigation indicates the driver of unit one was distracted by using a cell phone,” a news release from ISP District 5 stated.
Both workers were transported to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, where one is in stable condition with serious injuries. The other was treated and released.
Rollins is in the Will County Jail pending a bond hearing. He was charged with aggravated reckless driving and aggravated reckless conduct.
The left lane of I-80 westbound was closed until approximately 3:30 a.m. for crash investigation.
Aggravated reckless driving is a Class 4 felony offense. This occurs whenever a person is guilty of reckless driving and the result is an accident causing great bodily harm, permanent disability or disfigurement to any person. The sentencing statute provides that the penalty can be 1-3 years in the Department of Corrections and a fine of $25,000.
A 21 year old pickup? He should have stayed in Florida. Gary may become an Illinois extended stayer..