|
Rodger Morris, Attended New Trier East and Skokie Jr. High School, passed away October 24, 1996.
Palatine Countryside (IL) - October 31, 1996
Deceased Name: Roger D. Morris: Palatine man dies after I-55 accident
A Palatine man who was supervising a surveying crew at the intersection of Interstate 55 and Route 83 near Burr Ridge last Thursday was killed when he was struck by a car that veered onto the shoulder.
Roger D. Morris, 43, was hit by the the vehicle as it was coming off a Route 55 exit ramp to travel south on Route 83, an Illinois State Police spokesman said. Morris was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital and pronounced dead less than two hours after the accident.
Police said the car that hit Morris swerved onto the shoulder to avoid striking another vehicle near the ramp entrance. Morris was standing on the shoulder at the time.
The accident happened at about 2:50 p.m. Morris was pronounced dead at 4:27 p.m., according to the DuPage County Coroner's Office.
The driver of the vehicle that struck Morris, Meredith D. Werner of Joliet, was ticketed for failing to reduce speed. State police and the DuPage County Coroner's Office are still investigating the accident.
The I-55 project which Morris was working on was about two weeks away from completion, Morris' father, Rodger, said Monday. The crew only had about eight more miles to finish on that section of roadway, the father said.
Morris was a 1971 graduate of New Trier High School in Winnetka and had served in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 1978, including time with the Army Corps of Engineers.
In the Army, Morris learned to be a surveyor and he used his surveying skills on several highway projects, eventually supervising his own crews.
"He was an all-around nice guy," the elder Morris said of his son. "He was very well-liked. He had a great sense of humor and was always quick with a smile."
The family would get together on Sundays for breakfast. When they met last Sunday, Morris said his son was in fine spirits.
"As usual, he was the spark plug," he said.
Roger Morris also was a great lover of animals, the father noted.
"He was very much interested in the outdoors and wild life and wild animals," he said.
In lieu of flowers, the family is accepting contributions to Northwoods Wildlife Society, Route 70 West and Blumstein Road, Minocqua WI 54548.
Morris is survived by his parents and two sisters.
Palatine Countryside (IL)
|
