Two drivers hospitalized, one ticketed after incident with utility pole

BOTH DRIVERS were treated at Morris Hospital following an accident on Kankakee Road, south of Dondanville Road, about 11:45 p.m. Saturday Dec. 12.

The Grundy County Sheriff's Department completed the report on Wednesday.

Steven Claypool, 49, 55 Rice Road, South Wilmington, was taken to Morris Hospital by South Wilmington Ambulance.

Jennifer Manzello, 19, 60 Third Ave., South Wilmington, was taken to the hospital by Gardner Ambulance.

On Sunday, Dec. 13, Claypool was ticketed at his residence for going too fast for conditions. He posted bond and was given a Dec. 30 court date.

Deputy Darren Roach reported Kankakee Road was very slippery at the time of the accident.

Claypool told the deputy that, while driving on Kankakee Road, his Ford truck struck some ice, went out of control, slid into the west ditch and struck a utility pole, breaking it off about 10 feet above the ground.

Claypool told the deputy he was attempting to remove pieces of the utility pole from the road when he saw Manzello driving south on Kankakee Road. He attempted to signal her to stop, but she struck a piece of the pole.

Her Pontiac then spun 2.5 times and stopped on the east shoulder of Kankakee Road.

Braidwood ambulance also responded to the scene.