State police investigate fatal crash on Kankakee/Iroquois County line

Editor’s note: This story has been updated with the identity of the victim by the Iroquois County Coroner’s Office.

A crash involving two semi-tractor trailers resulted in the death of one of the drivers Monday morning on the Kankakee/Iroquois County line.

Iroquois County Coroner Bill Cheatum identified the victim, Jeremiah Tankins, 24, of St. Louis.

Tankins was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Cheatum.

Illinois State Police Troop 5 said in a news release about 3:02 a.m., that the crash occurred at the intersection of U.S. Route 45/52 and Kankakee County West 8000 South Road.

Tankins was traveling east on West 8000 Road in Kankakee County. The other semi was traveling south on U.S. Route 45/52, state police said.

Tankins failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection and struck the southbound semi, causing both to leave the roadway and overturn on their sides in Iroquois County, state police said.

The driver of the other semi was taken to an area hospital with injuries, state police said.

The roadway was closed and later reopened about 8:44 a.m., state police said.

There is no further information at this time, according to state police.