Tragedy on I-70: Person Struck and Killed by Semitruck After Exiting Ambulance in Bond County, Illinois
BOND COUNTY, Ill. — June 9, 2025 — A tragic and unusual fatality occurred early Monday morning along Interstate 70 near Greenville, Illinois, when an individual, reportedly being transported by ambulance, exited the vehicle and was fatally struck by a passing semi-truck.
According to the Illinois State Police (ISP), the incident happened at approximately 2:55 a.m. on the westbound lanes of I-70, near the Illinois Route 127 exit in Bond County. The victim, whose identity has not yet been released pending notification of next of kin, was en route to a medical facility in a Carle Ambulance when the situation took a sudden and tragic turn.
A Disturbing Sequence of Events
Investigators say the patient became combative during transport. The EMS crew, following protocol for safety, pulled the vehicle over onto the right shoulder of the highway. At that point, the individual reportedly opened the door, exited the ambulance, and ran into the westbound lanes of I-70, where they were struck by an oncoming semitruck.
Emergency responders immediately rendered aid and rushed the victim to a nearby hospital, but sadly, the individual succumbed to their injuries and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival.
Investigation Underway
The ISP quickly launched an on-scene investigation, shutting down multiple westbound lanes of the interstate for several hours while accident reconstruction teams documented evidence and interviewed witnesses, including the ambulance crew and the driver of the semitruck. The highway has since fully reopened to traffic, though questions remain about the events leading up to the fatal collision.
The semitruck driver, whose vehicle was found stopped at the scene, is cooperating with authorities and, at this time, no citations or charges have been filed.
Unanswered Questions
Many details remain unclear, including:
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Why the victim became agitated during ambulance transport.
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The nature of the medical emergency that prompted the original transport.
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Whether any mental health crisis or medical condition played a role in the patient’s behavior.
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What, if any, preventative measures could have been taken by EMS during the stop.
Law enforcement and emergency services stress that these kinds of incidents are rare and extremely difficult to predict, especially when dealing with individuals in a state of medical or psychological distress. Investigators are also looking into ambulance protocols and whether proper restraints and safety measures were in place during the incident.
Community and Agency Response
The Carle Health system, which operates the ambulance, has not yet issued a public statement but is expected to do so pending the outcome of the investigation. The incident is being taken very seriously by all agencies involved, as it raises questions about patient transport safety, mental health response protocols, and roadside emergency procedures.
“This is a heartbreaking situation for everyone involved,” said a spokesperson from the Illinois State Police. “Our thoughts are with the victim’s family, the emergency responders, and the semitruck driver, all of whom are affected by this tragic series of events.”
Roadway Safety and Public Awareness
This tragedy serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by high-speed traffic and the importance of caution on active roadways, particularly during emergency stops. For first responders, this event also underscores the risks they face not only from the environment but from unpredictable behaviors that can arise during crisis moments.
Authorities urge the public to remain vigilant on roadways and encourage medical and mental health professionals to continue conversations around safety protocols for transporting high-risk or unstable patients.
Conclusion
As the investigation continues, officials are working to determine exactly what led to the tragic death of the unidentified individual who exited an ambulance in a moment of distress—only to meet a heartbreaking fate on the asphalt of Interstate 70. More information is expected in the coming days as the Illinois State Police and Carle Ambulance Service complete their reviews.
Anyone with information about the incident is encouraged to contact Illinois State Police District 11.