This time of year, Illinois drivers are often sharing the road with snowplows. While these large, slow-moving vehicles are generally easy to avoid, a collision with one can have catastrophic consequences.

Earlier this month, a young Bellwood man lost his life when the car in which he was a passenger collided with an Illinois Tollway snowplow that had stopped to help control traffic in the aftermath of another crash. The accident occurred shortly after 1:00 a.m. on Sunday, Jan. 13 on Interstate 294.

The 20-year-old was in the back seat of a Chevrolet Malibu being driven by a 21-year-old man. They were driving northbound near Western Springs when the driver lost control of his car and hit the back of the snowplow. The snowplow driver had the emergency lights on but that didn’t help.

The young man died at the scene. The medical examiner’s office said that he had suffered multiple injuries in the crash. The driver of the car was hospitalized with injuries described as nonlife-threatening. The snowplow driver was uninjured in the crash.

The Illinois State Police (ISP) are still investigating the accident. It wasn’t reported what the road and weather conditions were at the time of the crash or what caused the driver to lose control of his car.

Severe winter weather can seriously impact drivers’ ability to control their vehicles. However, that doesn’t mean they can’t be held responsible for crashes.

Drivers need to adjust their behavior as conditions change on the road. They need to slow down, allow more room between vehicles and work to eliminate or at least minimize distractions. If you’ve been injured in a crash caused by another driver, regardless of how bad the weather was, it’s wise to find out what your options are for seeking compensation for medical care, lost income and more.