Lulije Cosentino Killed in Minonk Car Accident
Several others injured after vehicle rear-ended on Interstate 39
Lulije Cosentino, 49, of Dixon, was killed in a rear-end crash on Interstate 39 near Minonk, Illinois, on Wednesday, according to the Woodford County Coroner's Office.
The southbound collision occurred shortly before 10 a.m. near mile marker 22. A second vehicle rear-ended the victim's car, investigators said. Cosentino was pronounced dead at the scene.
Paramedics and a LifeFlight helicopter transported several other injured people to local hospitals. Their conditions were not immediately released.
The Woodford County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash. Autopsy and toxicology results are pending.
According to the Illinois Department of Transportation, the state recorded 1,196 motor vehicle crash death in 2024.
Why did the second vehicle fail to stop on Interstate 39?
Investigators will examine skid marks, vehicle data recorders, and witness statements to determine why the trailing driver did not brake in time. In rear-end car accidents such as this, authorities often look for signs of distraction, speeding, or following too closely.
Candice Bond, managing partner at Bond Legal, said, "When distraction, speed, and inadequate following distance all contribute to a fatal rear-end crash, insurance carriers tend to dispute each finding aggressively, because narrowing the scope of liability is in their direct financial interest."
"Legal counsel representing surviving relatives works to keep the complete evidentiary record intact and protect families from pressure to settle early," added Bond, who is also a national legal analyst for Accident News.
What are the next steps for the injured passengers?
Multiple people required helicopter and ambulance transport from the Woodford County crash scene. When passengers suffer severe trauma, identifying all available insurance coverage becomes a priority for the affected families.
The sheriff's office has not yet announced if the trailing driver will face criminal charges or traffic citations.
Illinois wrongful death statute
Under 740 ILCS 180, surviving family members may file a wrongful death action. Illinois applies modified comparative fault (50% bar). The statute of limitations is 2 years from the date of death.
Recoverable damages may include loss of financial support, loss of society, and grief.
According to Stefano Formica, a national legal analyst for Accident News and of counsel at Bond Legal, "The financial consequences of losing a family member in a fatal crash can arrive quickly and without warning. An attorney steps in to document every recoverable loss and protect surviving relatives from insurance pressure to resolve claims before the full picture is understood."