Police: Alcohol not a factor in Pingree Grove crash that killed 12-year-old
Authorities have ruled out alcohol as a factor in Monday morning's rollover crash in Pingree Grove that killed a 12-year-old Indiana girl.
Police don't yet know what made the driver of a semitrailer truck lose control on westbound Route 20 as it neared Reinking Road about 5:15 a.m., causing the truck to tip over and killing the driver's 12-year-old daughter, who was ejected from the passenger seat of the cab.
The girl was pinned underneath the truck's cab after the truck overturned, police said.
Dahabrielle A. Turner was pronounced dead at the scene, authorities said.
"We don't know exactly how fast the truck was going," Police Chief Carol Lussky said. "The truck rolled on its side and slid off the roadway, at which time we believe the girl was ejected and the cab rolled over on top of her."
The driver, Dior L. Turner of South Bend, Indiana, was taken to Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin. He suffered minor bumps and bruises and should have been released from the hospital, Lussky said.
Police interviewed Turner at the hospital. Charges may be forthcoming against him as a result of the investigation, Lussky said.
The speed limit where the accident occurred drops from 55 mph to 30 mph, she said.
The truck, owned by Landstar Inway Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida, was hauling a load of 10 containers of poly sealant. Seals on a couple of containers broke. Crews spent hours cleaning up the spill.
"It's not truly a hazmat situation, but for the cleanup they are going to be removing some soil just to make sure it hasn't sunk deeper," Lussky said.
No other vehicles were involved in the crash. The truck damaged several utility poles in the accident, police said.
The roadway reopened around 4 p.m. AT&T crews repaired phone lines damaged by the accident. Service to village hall and the police station was temporarily disconnected Monday afternoon.
The Kane County Accident Reconstruction Team is assisting in the investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash or who has additional information is asked to call the Pingree Grove Police Department at (847) 464-4600.
• Daily Herald staff writer Lee Filas contributed to this story.