Accident on Great River Bridge kills two

BURLINGTON — Tuesday morning, at approximately 8:03 a.m., two construction workers were struck and killed by a Southeastern Community College student.

Many commuters were left wondering when they found the westbound lane of traffic across the Great River Bridge detoured to either the Keokuk or Muscatine bridges until 2:30 p.m.

According to Illinois State Police, the men were walking behind a pickup truck and trailer with yellow construction lights activated as they set construction barrels in the westbound lane of the Great River Bridge.

The driver, 21-year-old SCC student and athlete Emily Johnson struck one of these traffic barrels, kept going, and subsequently, struck and killed 20-year-old Mt. Pleasant graduate from New London, Pearson J. Franklin, and 35-year-old Andrew Whitcomb, of Burnside, Ill.

The crash left Johnson with minor injuries.

Johnson received written citations for Scott’s Law — improper passing of a stationary emergency vehicle, improper use of an electronic communication device, and failure to reduce speed to avoid a crash.

“We would like to take this opportunity to reiterate the importance of obeying the Move Over law since it does pertain to road constructions crews, as well,” Illinois State Police (ISP) Trooper Joshua Korando said.

While charges against Johnson are filed by the state of Illinois, “all 50 states have enacted a Move Over law,” Korando said.

According to a state of Illinois news release, “A person who violates Scott's Law, commits a business offense and faces a fine of no less than $250 or more than $10,000 for a first offense. If the violation results in injury to another person, the violator's driver's license will be suspended for a mandatory period of anywhere between six months and two years.”

In Iowa, a violation of the Move Over Law which results in damage to property of another person without bodily injury will revoke the violator’s driver’s license privileges for 90 days.

In the event that the violation causes bodily injury, the suspension will last 180 days and an additional fine of $500.

If death results, privileges are suspended for one year and an additional fine of $1,000.

According to the Iowa Department of Transportation, Iowa’s Move Over Law requires drivers to change lanes, whenever possible, and slow down when approaching the following vehicles:

Stationary emergency vehicle with flashing lights

Stationary tow, recovery, maintenance, construction, solid waste or recycling collection vehicle that has its flashing lights activated.

Any stationary motor vehicle, including a passenger vehicle with hazard lights active.

Additionally, the Move Over Law requires drivers to yield the right of way to an emergency vehicle displaying flashing lights or sirens by moving to the right, stopping and waiting until the vehicle has passed.

“A good rule of the road is to change lanes or slow down anytime you are approaching a vehicle that is slow moving, stopped or stranded on the shoulder, if you can safely do so,” the Iowa DOT says.

Considering Johnson’s charges include improper use of an electronic communication device, ISP Trooper Korando provided the following statement.

“The ISP encourages drivers to limit distractions while driving and to slow down and move over when approaching an emergency vehicle, or any vehicle with their emergency or hazard lights activated,” he said.

In light of the involvement of a SCC student, the community college is offering counseling services to students or staff impacted by the incident.

While SCC is offering counseling services, Franklin’s Mt. Pleasant Class of 2020 classmates organized a Go-Fund-Me campaign to make a memorial and gift additional funds to his family.

According to Go-Fund-Me organizer and former classmate of Franklin, Kenna Smith, Franklin’s classmates wanted to do something to honor him.

“Pearson [Franklin] was always a class clown in high school and never failed to bring a smile to our faces,” Smith said.

Smith launched the campaign Tuesday afternoon with a goal to raised $2,000.

By Wednesday evening, the Go-Fund-Me page had already raised over $8,300, and the numbers continue to climb.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com