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It is with deep sorrow that we report the death of one of our own, Isaiah Fort, 39, of West Point, Mississippi. Isaiah, "Ike", died February 1, 2002.
Isaiah was westbound behind a pickup on I-80 near the Northwest 48th Street exit when the pickup slid, struck a guardrail and hit the cement bank of a bridge. Authorities say Isaiah tried to avoid the pickup and steered into the median, but the snow-covered grass would not let him steer, and his rig flipped on its side.
The slick morning surface kept the cab moving and propelled it out of the median into eastbound traffic, where an eastbound semi could not stop in time and plowed into the crashed semi's cab. Isaiah Fort, 39, of Kilgore, Texas, was pronounced dead at the scene.
He is survived by four children, four stepchildren, his parents, grandfather, three brothers, five sisters, one grandchild, as well as many other friends and relatives. Services were held on Saturday, February 9, 2002, at the New Canaan Land Church in Chicago, Illinois.
It is never easy to lose one of those among us. A modern day hero, Isaiah died trying to avoid others. He was faced with the choice of driving into a vehicle already in the ditch on the right, colliding with the pick up truck that had lost control in front of him, or trying to avoid both of them by moving to the left lane. His choice of going to the left saved the lives of other motorists, but probably cost him his own life.
The staff of ATS offers our sincere condolences to Isaiah's family and friends. Memorials can be sent to the Isaiah Fort Memorial Fund c/o Willie Fort Jr., 8131 S Bishop, Chicago, IL 60620.
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