Sneeze leads to I-55 crash between two tractor trailers

Posted on December 13, 2016

By Eric Stock

ATLANTA – Illinois State Police say a crash involving two tractor trailers on Interstate 55 in Logan County had traffic slowed for several hours early Tuesday.

Police say a semi driven by Brandon Dowell, 29, veered into the right lane of northbound I-55 when he sneezed and struck the side of the other trailer at 12:25 a.m. Dowell’s semi jacknifed, flipped and struck the guardrail on the east side of the road. A piece of equipment flew off the second trailer.

Dowell was flown to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He is listed in stable condition. The other driver, a 56-year-old man, wasn’t hurt. Dowell was ticketed for improper lane usage and failure to reduce speed.

Police report several crashes early Tuesday due in part to the snow and some icing on the roads.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected]. 

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