COAL VALLEY, Illinois -
One person is in the hospital and another is fortunate to be alive after a head-on crash. Police say an SUV and dump truck hit on IL 6 and the truck burst into flames just after 2pm Tuesday. It happened near Coal Valley east of Niabi Zoo Road and closed the highway for nearly four hours.
Watching the flames and smoke at the scene, it's hard to believe the driver of the dump truck later watched the aftermath, with no injuries.
"Well I just jumped out I was able to get the door open and got out," says Greg Schoellermann
Schoellermann told police the fire came after a maroon Subaru Forester drifted directly into his path...he tried to avoid it, but they smashed into each other head on. Debris from the crash littered the highway. Looking at the scene Greg's wife, Beth, can't believe his luck.
"I'm thankful he's okay, I hope the guy involved in the other car, I hope he's okay I don't know," says Beth Schoellermann.
The driver of the forester, an Iowa man in his 60's had to be cut out of his car, before being flown for treatment by a med force helicopter. Witnesses told Illinois state police it looked as the man in the Subaru fell asleep at the wheel. After Greg's dump truck went off the road and flipped on it's side, Greg avoided injury by climbing out of the passenger door just before the fuel tank exploded and asphalt in the truck caught fire.
"He says he's okay, I think he's shook up but not scratched or bruised anywhere that I can tell yet. Maybe later after we get home it might be different," says Beth.
Greg and his wife, Beth, owned the truck as part of their East Moline business Schoellermann Trucking, now, his wife says part of their livelihood has gone up in flames.
"This is his livelihood, yes, this is his business. Now we don't have the truck. I'm not sure what we'll do, but we'll come up with a plan," says Beth.
The victim in the accident was first flown to Trinity West and then transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals for a head injury and internal injuries. Illinois State Police continue to investigate the accident.
Watching the flames and smoke at the scene, it's hard to believe the driver of the dump truck later watched the aftermath, with no injuries.
"Well I just jumped out I was able to get the door open and got out," says Greg Schoellermann
Schoellermann told police the fire came after a maroon Subaru Forester drifted directly into his path...he tried to avoid it, but they smashed into each other head on. Debris from the crash littered the highway. Looking at the scene Greg's wife, Beth, can't believe his luck.
"I'm thankful he's okay, I hope the guy involved in the other car, I hope he's okay I don't know," says Beth Schoellermann.
The driver of the forester, an Iowa man in his 60's had to be cut out of his car, before being flown for treatment by a med force helicopter. Witnesses told Illinois state police it looked as the man in the Subaru fell asleep at the wheel. After Greg's dump truck went off the road and flipped on it's side, Greg avoided injury by climbing out of the passenger door just before the fuel tank exploded and asphalt in the truck caught fire.
"He says he's okay, I think he's shook up but not scratched or bruised anywhere that I can tell yet. Maybe later after we get home it might be different," says Beth.
Greg and his wife, Beth, owned the truck as part of their East Moline business Schoellermann Trucking, now, his wife says part of their livelihood has gone up in flames.
"This is his livelihood, yes, this is his business. Now we don't have the truck. I'm not sure what we'll do, but we'll come up with a plan," says Beth.
The victim in the accident was first flown to Trinity West and then transferred to University of Iowa Hospitals for a head injury and internal injuries. Illinois State Police continue to investigate the accident.
