Victim Identified: Deadly February crash in McLean County

Posted on March 1, 2023
As of Wednesday morning, ISP’s investigation has identified the semi driver as 39-year-old Issa Mohomed who was with 64-year-old Abdalla Nerja in the passenger seat. (WJBC File Photo)

By 25 News

MCLEAN COUNTY – Authorities have identified the victim of a Tuesday morning crash on Interstate 55.

Cory Geist, 25, has been identified as the driver who died in a two-vehicle crash on I-55 Southbound near LaGrange Road, or mile post 146 near McLean.

It was just before 2:00 a.m. when Geist’s box truck collided with a truck-tractor semi-trailer. Illinois State Police say the semi driver was taken to the hospital. That crash closed the southbound lanes of I-55 for nearly five hours for the investigation and cleanup.

As of Wednesday morning, ISP’s investigation has identified the semi driver as 39-year-old Issa Mohomed who was with 64-year-old Abdalla Nerja in the passenger seat. Both of them are reportedly uninjured and from Salt Lake City, Utah.

In its preliminary information report, ISP Troop 5 claims Mohomed pulled off onto the shoulder on I-55 between mile post 146 and 147 because he thought he had a faulty headlight. After checking the truck tractor, Mohomed pulled back onto I-55 without gaining speed on the shoulder.  Around the same time, Geist was traveling in the same direction.

Geist drove into the rear of the next car and died at scene.

Mohomed has been charged with violating minimum speed regulations, failure to yield to merging traffic and improper lane usage.

25 News can be reached at [email protected].

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