Metamora man identified as victim of fatal accident near Galesburg

GALESBURG — A Metamora man has been identified as the person killed Monday afternoon in an accident on Interstate 74 at mile marker 48, according to Galesburg police.

Jacob D. Diaz, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident that occurred at 2 p.m. Monday, according to police.

The two-vehicle accident happened when Diaz, who was eastbound, collided with the rear end of a pickup truck that was stationary on the right shoulder just west of the East Main Street exit ramp.

The driver of the pickup truck, John A. Droke, 55, of Henderson, sustained injuries and was taken to Galesburg Cottage Hospital before being transferred to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in Peoria. He remains hospitalized in critical condition, an OSF spokeswoman said Tuesday afternoon.

The accident, according to police, was weather related and no citations were issued.