Motorist dies from Joliet crash in burning vehicle

An unidentified man died Sunday after he suffered serious burns and bodily injuries from a single-vehicle crash in Joliet.

At about 7:33 p.m. Sunday, officers responded to the area of Western Avenue and North Bluff Street for a report of a single-vehicle crash with injuries, according to a Joliet police news release.

“Officers located a vehicle fully engulfed in flames,” police said.

A preliminary investigation determined that the driver was heading west and crossed the Cass Street, where the road becomes Western Avenue, when his vehicle left the roadway to the right, overturned, and came to a final rest after striking a light pole and metal fence.

“The vehicle then became engulfed in flames,” police said.

Officers determined the unidentified driver was the sole occupant of the vehicle and he “unfortunately succumbed to his injuries” that he suffered in the crash, police said.

The Will County Coroner’s Office had not identified the man as of late afternoon Monday.

The crash remains under investigation by the traffic unit of the Joliet Police Department.

Crews with the Joliet Fire Department had also responded to the scene and found the vehicle on its side and on fire, Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey said. The vehicle was against a steel fence and retaining wall, he said.

“The occupant of the vehicle was partially ejected from the vehicle and pinned between the vehicle and fence,” Blaskey said.

The fire was extinguished but the victim suffered serious burns and bodily injuries, Blaskey said. The man died on the scene, he said.

The Will County Coroner’s Office issued a press release stating that the man was pronounced dead at 11:46 p.m. An autopsy was to be done on Monday.