Tow truck driver struck and killed while removing vehicle on I-255 in Monroe County

A tow truck driver working to remove a broken down vehicle on Interstate 255 in Monroe County was struck and killed by a passing vehicle Wednesday morning, according to a news release from the Illinois State Police.

The name of the tow truck driver was not released. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

The driver of the vehicle that struck the tow truck driver stayed on the scene, the release states.

The accident happened near Columbia at 10:18 a.m. at Mile Post 6 on the southbound side of the interstate.

Here’s how the press release describes it:

“A vehicle was broken down on the right shoulder of the road. A tow truck was in the process of removing the broken down vehicle. The tow truck driver was loading the vehicle up on the back of the tow truck. The tow truck driver walked around the left side of the tow truck and was struck by a vehicle that was traveling southbound,” the release states

The roadway reopened about 1:25 p.m.

No further information is available at this time.

This story was originally published November 29, 2023 at 3:50 PM.