Two individuals were killed in a two-semi accident that occurred on I-70 near the Martinsville Exit, shortly before 4:00pm on Saturday.
According to a press release from the Illinois State Police, 49 year old, James M. Weaver, of Springfield, Missouri had slowed his semi tractor-trailer to a near stop just before I-70 eastbound Exit 136 due to another separate accident. A semi tractor-trailer driven by 51 year old, Khcicha Gogoladze, of Brooklyn, New York was approaching Weaver’s semi from behind. Gogoladze had failed to slow down, rear-ending Weaver. The collision caused extensive damage to Gogoladze’s semi which had also caught fire.
Khcicha Gogoladze and passenger, 60 year old, Ivan Koudla, of Glen Falls, New York passed away from injuries sustained in the impact.