CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) — A Tennessee man has been arrested and charged in connection with a crash that killed a construction worker in an active work zone along Interstate 74 in Champaign early Wednesday morning.
According to Champaign County State’s Attorney Julia Rietz, Quamaine Fletcher was driving the vehicle involved in the crash that struck and killed 65-year-old Steven A. Cornett around 3:30 a.m. near the I-74 and I-57 interchange.
Cornett, a construction worker and former Tilton police chief, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Rietz said Fletcher has been charged with one count of reckless homicide, a Class 2 felony punishable by three to 14 years in prison. Fletcher was expected to appear in court Thursday afternoon.
Authorities said Fletcher was allegedly speeding through the construction zone at the time of the crash. Rietz also said Fletcher told investigators he had dropped his phone and was attempting to pick it up moments before the collision.
The deadly crash shut down part of eastbound I-74 for several hours as Illinois State Police investigated the scene.
Following the incident, the Illinois Department of Transportation issued a renewed warning to motorists traveling through construction zones, urging drivers to slow down, remain alert and watch carefully for workers and equipment along roadways.
The crash remains under investigation.