Family and colleagues mourn loss of man in tragic I-74...

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. (WCIA) — The local community is mourning the loss of a beloved construction worker and former Tilton Police Chief who tragically lost his life in a crash on Interstate 74 near Champaign on Wednesday night.

“Imagine if it was your child, your father, your brother, or your husband,” implored Michael Bien, reflecting on the impact of the accident.

A statement from IDOT has been released regarding the tragic incident that claimed the life of a worker in a construction zone on I-74.

In light of Wednesday’s incident, Bien emphasizes the importance of being vigilant while navigating through construction areas. This reminder comes after 65-year-old Steven A. Cornett from Danville was fatally struck.

The accident occurred around 3:30 a.m. near the I-74/I-57 interchange in Champaign. According to Illinois State Police, Cornett was hit by a pickup truck towing a trailer. He was declared dead on the scene.

“We were told rain and something had happened,” Bien said.

Cornett was hit and killed while working for Daniel Ribbe Trucking. Construction teams got the call around 5 a.m. to not come into work. Bien said he has been working on that same construction site for five years.

“Steve didn’t do anything to anybody, other than he was doing his job,” Bien shared. “It could have been any one of us. It could have been the drivers, the workers, the safety guy… Honestly, it’s a joke or a nightmare, depends on which way you want to look at it first.”

Tilton Mayor Bill Wear, like many others in Vermilion County, is mourning the loss of a friend Wednesday.

“We went fishing together, we hung out together, you know we grew up together,” Wear said. “I went hunting with his family down in Southern Illinois, different places. I mean they was like a second family to me.”

Cornett started with the Tilton Police Department in 1984, working his way up the ladder to chief of police in 2010. He retired in 2017.

“He was a good police chief. Highly respected, everybody liked him,” said Wear. “As far as working with him, he listened to stuff. But if you were wrong he would take the time to explain why you were wrong and where the law picks up.”

Wear recollects the fun times they had growing up, his passion for the outdoors and Cornett’s ability to tell stories. He said above all else, Cornett cared about his family.

“Steve had retired from here and went on to work other places,” said Wear. “Steve was a family man first, he was working to take care of his family.”

Now, that family has to move on without him because of a crash Wear called “avoidable.”

“These guys, [construction workers], are going out there trying to improve the highways and roadways, bridges to make life easier for everybody. They want to come home. He’s not. Now he’s got a wife at home that doesn’t have a husband no more,” Wear said. “He’s got kids who don’t have a dad, grandchildren who don’t have a grandpa.”

Bien, who is on the night crew — like Cornett was — said whether it’s during the day or the midnight hours, the attitude of the world is the same: everyone lives in a hurry.

“All the construction companies understand you want to be home with your family. Well, so do we,” Bien said. “[Cornett] has a family he wanted to make it home to. Well, he didn’t make it home to his family because somebody wanted to make it home to their family, and they were in a hurry.”

Making it home to his family is a blessing Bien will never take for granted.

“It’s not something to overlook or disregard,” he shared.

Bien said that he sees mindless drivers every single day, but he and Wear both hope that drivers will take construction zones seriously, so they doesn’t have to see another town, friendship or family forever changed.

“Tilton lost a great backer, but I know a family who lost a great person,” Wear said.

And Bien knows going back to work will never be the same.

“When you lose normal workers, somebody that you’ve known every single day you’ve worked with for years, or guys that you’ve met a few months ago, it becomes kind of like a big family,” Bien said. “You’re like, ‘Oh, good morning, brother. Good morning.’ That’s a normal thing, like, ‘Hey, what’s going on today?’ This takes it out of the norm. It makes the job site uncomfortable. It gives you, well, it’s a bad feeling.”

Bien also reminded community members that the main posted speed limit in the construction zone is 45 miles per hour. He said while slowing down in construction might cost you time, it can also save a life.

WCIA reached out to Illinois State Police to learn if a driver has been arrested or ticketed. In response, State Police said that the crash is still under investigation, and that no further information is available at this time.

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Family and colleagues mourn loss of man in tragic I-74 construction zone accident

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