Week-old traffic crash report, Route 47

Gus Philpott
Woodstock Advocate
April 23, 2010

Last Friday, April 16, there was a three-vehicle crash on Route 47, south of Woodstock and south of Lucas Road. The crash investigation was handled by the McHenry County Sheriff's Department, with assistance from the Woodstock Police Department. Northbound and southbound traffic was re-routed, while fire, rescue, police and towing all went to work.

What happened? The report that night was that it was a minor, three-car accident.

Here's what really happened, according to a well-written crash report by MCSD Deputy #1876.

At approximately 5:36PM on April 16, a 2005 Nissan Altima, driven by Andrew D. Cannata, 22, Woodstock, was northbound on Route 47, when it collided with a truck and a car. A tractor-trailer owned by CSX Intermodal, Inc., and driven by Luis G. Falconi, 43, Bartlett, was southbound. Behind the truck was a 2005 Mitsubishu Lancer, driven by Ethan Liss, 20, of Gilberts.

Cannata drifted across the center line and first struck the step under the driver's door and then hit the rear tandem wheels on the trailer. Cannata's vehicle then spun counter-clockwise and was hit by Liss' vehicle. Cannati's vehicle stopped across the southbound lane, facing east. Liss' vehicle spun and stopped on the west shoulder, facing west. The tractor-trailer stopped in the southbound traffic lane.

Woodstock Fire/Rescue moved Cannata a short distance to a landing zone, where Flight for Life picked him up and transported him to St. Anthony's Hospital in Rockford.

Liss was transported by Lakewood Fire Dept. to Centegra Memorial-Woodstock.

Cannata was cited for Improper Lane Usage and will appear in McHenry County Circuit Court on June 26, 2010.