Coles County, IL — July 10, 2025, Charles Clinard was killed in a truck accident at about 8:50 p.m. on State Route 16 at Lerna Road.

Authorities said a pickup crashed into an Illinois Department of Transportation maintenance vehicle that was blocking the road because of an earlier crash about a mile and a half away. The collision caused both vehicles to catch fire, as the state truck's fuel tank ruptured.

Pickup driver Charles Clinard, 61, died in the crash east of Matoon, according to authorities.

No other injuries were reported.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Coles County crash at this time. The accident is still being investigated.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people read about a crash like this, where a pickup struck a stationary state maintenance vehicle and both erupted in flames, they’re often left wondering, “How could this have happened?” Was it just a case of a driver not paying attention, or is there more to the story?

Right now, there’s a lot we don’t know. Authorities say the state vehicle was blocking the road because of an earlier crash about a mile and a half away. But it’s not clear how that closure was set up or whether it gave drivers a fair chance to react. Was there proper signage in place? Were flashing lights used to warn oncoming traffic? Was the truck stopped in the middle of the roadway or off to the side? Those details can make all the difference.

I’ve handled cases where poor traffic control during emergency responses led to deadly crashes. In one case, a commercial vehicle was used to block a lane, but no advance warning was given. A driver came around a bend with no idea the road ahead was obstructed and had no time to stop. The question wasn’t just whether the driver reacted properly; it was whether the people responsible for setting up that closure gave him a chance to react at all.

That’s the kind of investigation that needs to happen here. We’re talking about a crash where the pickup driver died and the collision caused both vehicles to catch fire. If the maintenance vehicle’s fuel tank ruptured on impact, it raises questions about how it was positioned and whether it was properly shielded or exposed in a way that made the fire more likely.

It’s also not yet known what, if anything, the pickup driver could see in the moments before impact. Was it dark with low visibility? Was the truck obscured in some way? Was the driver distracted or impaired? Without dash cam footage, scene photos or eyewitness accounts, it’s premature to point the finger at anyone. But given that this involved a government vehicle in an active response zone, it’s critical to look closely at what precautions were, or weren’t, taken to protect passing motorists.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not yet clear whether the road closure was marked in a way that gave the pickup driver time to avoid the stopped vehicle.
• Investigators will need to examine whether the state vehicle was properly positioned and whether its fuel system contributed to the fire.
• Black box data, dash cam footage and traffic control logs will be crucial in understanding how the crash unfolded.
• The cause of the crash can’t be fully known without a thorough investigation into both driver behavior and state agency protocols.