Man, 49, Dies In Head-on Crash Near Will County Fairgrounds: Police

PEOTONE, IL — One driver was killed in a head-on collision Saturday on Wilmington-Peotone Road near the Will County Fairgrounds, Peotone police said Monday.

On June 8, at approximately 5:08 p.m., Peotone police were called to a crash on Wilmington-Peotone Road, just east of Division Street. Officers on-scene found a minivan and a semi truck, both with severe front-end damage, positioned in the eastbound lanes of Wilmington Peotone Road.

The driver of the minivan, Damian Kwain, 49, of Peotone, was found unresponsive in the driver’s seat. Manhattan fire and paramedics immediately began extricating the driver and providing medical care. He was taken to Riverside Hospital in Kankakee, where he was pronounced dead, according to Peotone Police and the Will County Sheriff's Department. Peotone police notified the next of kin.

The driver of the semi truck was uninjured in the collision.

Will County Sheriff's police said initial investigation showed the minivan was traveling westbound in the eastbound lane on Wilmington-Peotone Road, and struck the eastbound semi head-on.

The road was closed for hours while police investigated. The Will County Accident Reconstruction Team was called to the scene. Additionally, the Will County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) assisted with traffic control and lighting.

Wilmington-Peotone Road was cleared and reopened to traffic around 11:30 p.m.