Illinois State Police have arrested a Tennessee man on alcohol charges after the 2005 Chevy Trailblazer he was driving struck an abandoned semi-tractor trailer truck parked along I-39 south of Rochelle early yesterday morning in which 2 people were killed.
The accident took place a short time before 2AM about a mile south of Steward.
44-year old Rusty Garner of Union City, Tennessee was traveling southbound on I-39 when the SUV rear ended the semi.
2 passengers in the car were pronounced dead at the scene. 34-year old Travis Sansoucie along with his 43-year old wife Pamela from Paris, Tennessee suffered fatal injuries.
Garner was taken by helicopter to OSF St. Anthony Medical center in Rockford for treatment of his injuries.
He has been arrested on the charge of DUI and illegal transportation of alcohol. Garner was also ticketed for improper lane usage and driving on a revoked license.
The southbound lane of I-39 was shutdown for traffic for around 5 hours yesterday morning while emergency personnel were on the scene.
The accident remains under investigation by Illinois State Police.
