RICHLAND CO., Ill.---Illinois State Police have made available details of the accident that occurred in Olney just a couple of hours before the fatal collision near Noble that took the life of a young Olney man on an ATV.
According to ISP, the first crash happened on Illinois 130 (West Street) at Wayne Street on Friday, May 15, at approximately 11:30 p.m.
There a freight liner tractor-trailer combination, being operated by Jesus Cavazos, 27, of San Juan, Texas, was on 130 backing into an area, southbound onto Wayne Street.
While the truck had the roadway blocked, a 2014 Buick, being operated by Sandra Giles, of Olney, was southbound on 130 and drove under the trailer of Cavazos' vehicle.
Cavazos was cited for Unlawful Possession of Alcohol, having False Reports on his operating log, Improper Backing, and Improper Lane Usage.
Giles was cited for DUI-Alcohol.
While ISP didn't note it, our sources indicate that Gerald Foster, of Foster's Towing in Richland County, was called to the scene to remove at least one of the vehicles, and he was on his way home a little later when the accident that was the subject of the post at this link occurred.
That accident resulted in the death of 19-year-old Brandon Blackford.
Foster himself was then cited for DUI-Alcohol. However, there's something strange about his case in Richland County, as a pending DUI is still slogging through the courts, after YEARS of languishing there.
We are trying to sort through that mess, and will attempt to have an update for you in the next print version (May-June Special Edition) on stands next Wednesday, May 27.