Joliet Traffic Death On South Chicago Street: Semi Driver, Semi Company Hit With Lawsuit

JOLIET, IL — The same Chicago lawyer who filed a wrongful death lawsuit in connection with the death of 40-year-old Wilmington motorist Adam Sigler, on Oct. 1 has also filed a separate lawsuit in connection with September's traffic fatality that ended the life of Joliet motorist Adam Weathers.

Both of the traffic fatalities happened on Joliet's Route 53/South Chicago Street and both deadly crashes involved semi-trailers that were turning into oncoming traffic.

According to the lawsuit filed on behalf of 28-year-old Adam Weathers, civil defendant Azael Velleda Gomez is a commercial motor vehicle driver and on Sept. 12, he was driving a tractor-trailer involved in the deadly crash. Govi Logistics is based in Cumming, Georgia and the truck belonging to its motor carrier business was involved in the Joliet fatality.

"At a young age, Adam was full of energy, curiosity, and determination, always eager to learn and explore. He attended Joliet Central High School and worked as a forklift driver. Adam loved music, fishing, dancing, and working out," his obituary noted. "Through life’s triumphs and challenges, Adam remained a guiding light to all those around him, embodying kindness and resilience. Anyone who knew Adam knew he was incredibly kind-hearted and was a source of positivity. He was a devoted son, brother, and friend. He would help anyone, any way he could. Family and friends will miss him more than words can say."

At 12:59 p.m. on Sept. 12, Weathers was driving his vehicle southbound on Chicago Street and Gomez was operating the Govi Logistics tractor-trailer and he attempted to make an illegal left turn from a private business roadway near 3451 South Chicago Street, the lawsuit noted.

Gomez was trying to drive the semitrailer north onto Chicago Street and "in making that movement, the tractor-trailer pulled into the path of the vehicle operated by Weathers," according to plaintiff's lawyer Adam Gohn of Walner Law on Chicago's North LaSalle Street.

"Mr. Weathers attempted to avoid the truck by steering into the grass median that separates the northbound and southbound traffic, he was unable to avoid being hit by the tractor-trailer truck driven by defendant Gomez," the Walner Law firm pointed out.

The collision impact ejected Weathers from his car, "causing him to violently strike the ground, where he was found by emergency personnel, before being transported to St. Joseph's Hospital in Joliet ... where he died due to his injuries sustained during the collision," Gohn wrote.

As for Gomez, the co-defendant, he "was acting within the scope and course of his employment and agency with Govi Logistics, LLC," the plaintiff asserted.

Gohn's lawsuit accuses Gomez and Govi Logistics of negligence and seeks a monetary judgement in excess of $50,000, plus costs and other relief.

As of Wednesday, no criminal charges or tickets had been issued by the Joliet Police Department in connection with the Sept. 12 traffic fatality of Weathers.