April 10--A 47-year-old Joliet man was killed Wednesday after his car was struck by a semitrailer on Interstate 55 outside of Plainfield.
The incident occurred about 4:30 p.m., according to Illinois State Police.
A 1999 Chrysler driven by the victim, Eric Sharpe, had stalled in the right northbound lane, according to state police and Plainfield Fire Protection District Deputy Chief Jon Stratton.
A semi driven by a Melrose Park man struck Sharpe's vehicle as he attempted to get off the road, according to officials.
The semi driver was taken to Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital with non life-threatening injuries, Stratton said.
Sharpe was pronounced dead on the scene at 5:42 p.m., according to the Will County coroner's office.
The collision sent Sharpe's vehicle from the right hand lane into the median wall, Stratton said.
The semi was originally on top of his vehicle, but the semi driver had been able to reverse the truck off it by the time fire crews arrived, Stratton said.
Sharpe was initially trapped in the car and required "heavy extrication," according to Stratton.
"He took a heavy impact," Stratton said.
The collision also caused the semi to jackknife, he said, blocking all northbound lanes of I-55 traffic, including part of the shoulder, which initially hindered the fire district's response.
Northbound I-55 was closed after the accident and reopened just after 7 p.m., according to Stratton.
geoffz@tribpub.com
