Faulty steering causes Chester wreck

CHESTER -- In a bit of a scary situation, faulty steering has been determined as the cause of the Thursday morning accident on Route 3 south of Andy's Autobody on Chester's south side.

According to Trooper Christopher "Joey" Watson of the Illinois State Police, 45-year-old Allan Kane, of Coulterville, was southbound on Route 3 near Ridge Drive when he lost control of his 1999 Mack tractor-trailer.

The Mack veered into the northbound lane, where it sideswiped the trailer of a northbound 1994 Freightliner semi driven by a 61-year-old male out of Cobden. That driver's name was not released.

The Mack then veered off the left side of the roadway and into a ditch, where it overturned and spilled coal down the hillside.

Kane suffered minor injuries and refused treatment at the scene, according to local law enforcement. The driver of the Freightliner was not injured.

Kane was cited with a motor carrier safety violation for defective steering parts. The accident occurred at 8:57 a.m.

Crews spent several hours Thursday cleaning up the mess, which required the use of a skid loader to reclaim the spilled coal. The Mack was towed from the scene, while the Freightliner was not.

"They were out there for a long time for cleanup and post-accident investigation," Watson said. "It was a good while."