WHAT:                      Two Vehicle Fatal Traffic Crash

WHERE:                     Interstate 57 southbound at milepost 262, Ford County

WHEN:                      August 27, 2022 at approximately 7:28 a.m.

VEHICLES:              Unit 1 – 2017 Gray Ford Escape

 

                                    Unit 2 – 2017 Red Truck-Tractor Semi-Trailer

           

DRIVERS:                  Unit 1 – Ryan R. Rippe, 38-year-old male from Cresent City, IL - Deceased

 

                                    Unit 2 – Brandon D. Cole, 33-year-old male from Macon, GA– Uninjured

 

PRELIMINARY:        A preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred:  Unit 1 was traveling southbound on Interstate 57, immediately behind Unit 2.  Unit 1 failed to reduce speed and struck the rear of Unit 2 with the front end of Unit 1.  Unit 1 exited the roadway, passed through the center median, and came to a final rest facing southbound in the northbound left lane.  Unit 2 came to a final rest facing southbound on the right shoulder of the roadway.  The driver if Unit 1 was pronounced deceased on scene by the Ford County Coroner.