Truck driver recovering after shot on Dan Ryan Expressway

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A semi truck driver shot in the face on the Dan Ryan Expressway on the city's South Side last week has miraculously survived, and recovering, his daughter said Sunday in an exclusive interview.

"He's just taking one day at a time," said daughter Alina Rafan.

Ion Rafan, 68, was driving his truck late Thursday in northbound lanes when someone drove up and opened fire near 95th Street.

His daughter said he is a hard-working man who did not deserve this. Her voice sometimes cracked with emotion as she talked about her father's slow recovery.

Ion Rafan is a long-time truck driver and now it's unclear whether he will be able to return to work. He was heading back to park his truck and go home for the day when a bullet came crashing through the driver's side window, hitting just below the nose and traveling through his nose.

He was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

"He loves his job. He loves what he's doing and it's really said that something like that happened," Alina Rafan said

A Good Samaritan stopped and helped give medical assistance, helping keep him conscious until paramedics arrived. Police briefly closed the expressway as the investigated.

This was one of at least 20 recent shootings on Chicago area expressways.

Investigators have not identified the shooter or what they might have been targeting. Police have to yet to come up with a description of the offender.

Ion Rafan's family just hopes for answers.

"Whoever thinks this is funny or a game, it's actually not," Alina Rafan said. "You hurt families. You hurt people."