Man's Death Under Semi-Tractor Trailer On Joliet's Route 53 Prompts Wrongful Death Lawsuit

JOLIET, IL — A Chicago law firm has just filed a wrongful death lawsuit at the Will County Courthouse in connection with the Oct. 1 fatality of a 40-year-old Wilmington man who collided with a semi-tractor trailer on Joliet's southern corridor along Route 53.

The lawsuit, filed by attorney Adam Gohn of Walner Law, names as the defendant "Jone Doe," only to refer to the defendant as a "John Doe," in the first paragraph and in all subsequent graphs. Most lawyers and firm lawyers who routinely file wrongful death lawsuits at the Will County Courthouse already know the true identity of the person they are suing, but that is not the case for Walner Law.

At any rate, the lawsuit was brought forward by Yasmine Owens, personal representative of Adam Sigler's estate and the surviving parent of Jason Sigler, the 2-year-old child who was seriously injured during the Oct. 1 crash that killed his father in Joliet.

According to the lawsuit, "defendant John Doe is a commercial motor vehicle driver residing in Illinois. On Oct. 1, 2025, he was operating a tractor-trailer involved in the crash ... in Will County."

As for the events leading to Adam Sigler's death, the Wilmington father was driving his vehicle southbound on Chicago Street in Joliet at 10:22 p.m. and accompanied by his minor child, Jason Sigler, who was properly restrained in a child seat in the back of the vehicle driven by his father, the lawsuit explained.

According to the Chicago attorney, John Doe was operating a Volvo tractor-trailer on Dollar Tree Lane and tried to make an illegal left turn into northbound Route 53/Chicago Street.

"In making that movement, the tractor-trailer pulled into the path of the vehicle operated by Adam Sigler and Jason Sigler. Adam Sigler attempted to avoid the truck, but he was unable to avoid being hit by the tractor-trailer truck driven by the defendant Doe," the lawsuit announced.

The plaintiffs pointed out that Adam Sigler and his young son Jason Sigler were trapped underneath the tractor trailer truck. Adam Sigler was pronounced dead upon being extricated from the wreckage and his son Jason was taken to St. Joe's Hospital in Joliet, where he remains in critical condition from the injuries suffered in the collision.

The lawsuit noted that Yasmine Owens is the mother of Jason Sigler and the long-time romantic partner of the decedent, Adam Sigler. Her lawsuit accuses John Doe of negligence for failure to keep a proper lookout, yielding when required and making turning movements only when safe. "Plaintiff Jason Sigler suffered severe and debilitating injuries, past and future medical bills, other medical costs and permanent loss of quality of life," the lawsuit states.