Crash Release
Date: 11/13/10
Time: 7:05 a.m..
Location: Interstate 70- Westbound at Milepost 44
County: Bond
Crash Number: 11-10-03102
Unit 1
Vehicle Description: 2009 Freightliner / pulling semi-trailer
Driver Name: Thomas A. Tritt
Gender: Male
Age: 55
City/State of Residence : O'Fallon, MO.
Seatbelt use: Unknown
Injuries: Minor
Taken To: Greenville Hospital
Unit 2
Vehicle Description: 2002 Freightliner/ pulling a semi-trailer
Driver Name: Basil Y. Khamis
Gender: Male
Age: 50
City/State of Residence : El Cajon, CA
Seatbelt use: n/a
Injuries: Fatal
Taken To: n/a
Narrative: On 11/13/10, at approximately 7:05 a.m., Basil Y. Khamis
had the tractor trailer (Unit #2) that he had been driving a few minutes
earlier pulled onto the right shoulder and parked on Westbound Interstate
70 at milepost 44. It appears that Khamis had exited his vehicle, and was
standing on the shoulder near or on the white line, next to the trailer
that Unit #2 had been pulling. Unit #1, a tractor trailer, being driven by
Thomas A. Tritt, was traveling westbound on Interstate 70, approaching
Unit #2. Tritt fell asleep, and Unit #1 drifted to the right and struck
Unit #2 and Khamis. Khamis was pronounced dead at the scene by the Bond
County Coroner's Office. Tritt had minor injuries, and was transported to
Greenville Regional Hospital.
* The public is reminded that criminal defendants are presumed innocent
until the government is able to prove its charges in court beyond a
reasonable doubt.
Sgt. Brent Beltz #4588
Illinois State Police- District #11
