3 dead, 11 injured in Oak Lawn crash

OAK LAWN, Ill. (WLS) -- Three people are dead and 11 others are injured in a multivehicle crash in south suburban Oak Lawn.

The accident involving 11 vehicles happened approximately 4:27 Sunday afternoon near 95th Street and Cicero Avenue, Oak Lawn police said.

A good portion of 95th Street remained closed Sunday night.

Witnesses said the driver of a pickup truck was driving erratically westbound on 95th Street at 80-100 miles per hour. As he approached the light at Cicero, he went through the red light, and then veered into the traffic stopped at the red light in the eastbound lanes, striking several vehicles. the driver of the truck is among those killed.

"It was one of those things like out of a movie where you see it happening but there's nothing you can really do to stop it," said witness Olga Little. "When he hit the cars he maybe flipped over about three of them. It was a horrible scene that I probably will never forget."

Police said that the driver of the pickup truck was involved in two other incidents right before he plowed into several cars.

"We believe that there was an encounter with somebody who was also in traffic at 95th and Western Avenue," said Randy Palmer, Oak Lawn Police Department. "That individual attempted to make contact with the vehicle and the vehicle left the area at that time. We also believe that the vehicle might be involved in another crash at 95th and Keeler."

Two of the injured are in critical condition and eight are being treated for minor injuries. One of the victims is in what officials at Christ Hospital in Oak Lawn are describing as non-critical condition.

Police say it will be several hours before 95th Street near Cicero will reopen.

The Medical Examiner does not have the names of the three people who were killed. Oak Lawn Police said they will have more information at a 9:30 Monday morning press conference.

The Oak Lawn Accident Investigative Unit is investigating the crash.