2 men killed in Manhattan crash, 1 driver cited

Two men were killed in a head-on collision Saturday morning in Manhattan.

James M. Kopec, 52, and Clifford Sales, 47, both of Manhattan, died after the crash near the intersection of Cedar and Baker roads.

Kopec was driving a Toyota Prius and Sales was driving a Ford Escape, Will County Sheriff’s Spokeswoman Kathy Hoffmeyer said.

A third motorist, Benjamin Razo, 35, of Bradley was cited for failing to yield at a stop intersection, Hoffmeyer said.

About 9 a.m. Saturday, deputies were called to Cedar and Baker roads for a report of a crash where two vehicles had sustained heavy front-end damage, Hoffmeyer said.

An emergency crew with Manhattan Fire Protection District extricated Kopec and Sales, the sole occupants of the Toyota and Ford, respectively. Both men were taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox in critical condition, Hoffmeyer said.

Razo, the driver of a Chevy truck, told police that he was traveling west on Baker Road when he stopped at the intersection of Cedar Road. Razo said he saw the Prius traveling north on Cedar Road and he thought he could go through the intersection safely, she said.

“Once [Razo] began entering the intersection, he realized the Prius was approaching him quicker than he anticipated,” Hoffmeyer said.

Razo stopped his vehicle and the Prius swerved to avoid him but then struck the Ford, which was traveling south on Cedar Road, she said.

“They struck head on,” Hoffmeyer said.

Kopec and Sales died at Silver Cross as a result of multiple injuries suffered in a motor vehicle collision, officials with the Will County Coroner’s Office said in a news release.

Razo also was taken to Silver Cross to submit blood and urine samples for a DUI kit, the results of which the Sheriff’s Office has yet to receive, Hoffmeyer said.