CHARLESTON, IL : A motorcyclist died from injuries he received in an accident on Friday, May 26, 2017

A motorcyclist died from injuries he received in an accident that also involved a four-door Mazda in northern Coles County on Friday morning.

Michael A. Elam, 55, of rural Hutton was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, Coles County Coroner Ed Schniers said.

The motorcycle was eastbound on County Road 1000N about two miles east of Loxa Road when it collided with the Mazda about 8:21 a.m. Friday, according to Illinois State Police. Schniers said the Mazda was westbound and struck the motorcycle head-on.

Elam was a retired Eastern Illinois University police officer.

Illinois State Police released information about the accident late Friday. Police said the 2014 blue Mazda four-door vehicle driven by Vanessa Cappiello, 26, of Rochester, N.Y., was westbound behind a white 2008 Freightliner, hauling a semitruck, driven by Gary R. Morris, 69, of Mattoon.

Cappiello attempted to use the eastbound lane to pass the semi, ISP reported, and did not see Elam, riding a 2003 Harley Davidson motorcycle, traveling eastbound in the eastbound lane. As a result, the Mazda and the motorcycle struck head on, police reported.

Cappiello was cited for improper overtaking on the left and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident, ISP stated.

Source :
Motorcyclist dies in head-on collision