Coroner IDs driver killed in major Joliet crash on Route 53

A 32-year-old man has been identified as the driver of a compact car who died after he crashed into the rear of a semitrailer in Joliet, police said.

Officers responded to the crash about 5:40 a.m. Friday in the southbound lanes of Route 53 just north of West Sharp Road, Joliet police Sgt. Dwayne English said.

Route 53 also is known as South Chicago Street.

A preliminary investigation of the crash has led police to believe that the 32-year-old driver of a Chevrolet Cobalt collided into the rear of the semitrailer, which was stopped in the curb lane of Route 53.

“It is believed that the [semitrailer’s] hazard lights were activated and that the [semitrailer] driver had come to a complete stop in the lane of traffic to check his GPS prior to the crash,” English said.

The driver was identified as Robert S. Roach Jr., 32, of Munster, Indiana, according to Will County Coroner Laurie Summers’ Office. Roach was pronounced dead at 8:50 a.m. Friday.

Preliminary findings from an autopsy on Friday showed Roach suffered “multiple injuries due to the motor vehicle collision,” according to Summers’ office.

The 62-year-old driver of the semitrailer, who is from Manitoba, Canada, was not injured, English said.

The road had been closed for a “significant amount of time” while a police reconstruction of the crash took place, English said.

Anyone with information or video regarding this crash is encouraged to call the traffic unit at 815-724-3010, English said.