Illinois State Police say the man who crashed his motorcycle into the rear of a vehicle along Interstate 74 near Saint Joseph Friday afternoon (July 27, 2018) will face multiple charges. Thirty-three year old Zackary Blakeney of Mahomet was air-lifted from the scene to be treated for multiple injuries. State Police say preliminary charges being lodged against him include driving while his license is suspended and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.
Danville Police started pursuing the cycle initially after getting a request to remove an intoxicated person from a business. Police say the person left driving a motorcycle before officers arrived, but was subsequently located.
Danville Police and Vermilion County Sheriff’s Deputies say the cycle fled at speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour onto interstate 74 before the crash occurred. Sheriff’s Captain Michael Hartshorn says the cycle was passing other vehicles on the grassy median and the right hand shoulder at excessive speeds as it entered a construction zone. Hartshorn says deputies backed off but the cycle continued on at a high speed before hitting the rear of a vehicle. Occupants of the vehicle that was struck were not hurt, but the cyclist was air lifted to Carle Hospital in Urbana. No information was available on his condition.
