An accident early on Saturday morning south of Fish Hatchery Road in southern Morgan County claimed the life of a Chicago man who was driving a tractor trailer that left the roadway and struck a tree.
Morgan County Sheriff Johnnie Walter confirmed Saturday morning that the accident, which happened around 4 a.m. was fatal and authorities in Chicago are working to notify the next of kin. He did not identify the driver, but said deputies investigating the accident found that the semi was southbound on U.S. 522 and ran off the right edge of the roadway, where his truck hit a tree. The impact was in the cab area of the truck, said the sheriff. The truck was hauling a load of apples.
The 61-year-old male driver was declared deceased at the scene.
U.S. 522 was blocked for several hours while an investigation was conducted and the scene was cleared. The roadway reopened at 9:15 a.m. said Sheriff Walter.
Deputy Burkholder is the investigating officers into the incident. It in unknown at this time what caused the driver to leave the roadway.
