Police identify driver killed after car goes airborne, crashes through barrier onto I-55
I-55 reopened after being closed for eight hours on Thursday.
ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (WLS) -- A 20-year-old was killed after police said he lost control of his vehicle and crashed through a sound barrier wall and onto Interstate 55 in the south suburbs.
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The crash happened at around 4:30 a.m. on Route 126 near mile marker 260, Romeoville police said.
Romeoville police said Johnathan Wenzel was speeding on a frontage road in a red Ford Fusion when he hit a curve and went airborne, crashing through a barrier wall and onto I-55.
A black Ford SUV then crashed into Wenzel's car on I-55, police said.
Wenzel died at the scene after being cut out of his vehicle by firefighters with the Plainfield Fire Protection District.
Records show he lived around a quarter of a mile away from where his vehicle went through the barrier.
The driver of the black vehicle had non-life-threatening injuries, police said.
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"When I looked out the window and saw all the police presence, that's when I woke up my husband," said Danielle Rivera, who lives in the area. "Seeing that huge hole, and seeing all the police officers, it was really heartbreaking."
Rivera said that over the years that curve has been the site of many crashes.
"People that live in the area know it's dangerous. Our neighbor that used to live here had a car crash through their backyard because of that curb," Rivera said.
Chopper 7 flew above the scene and spotted the hole in the barrier wall. Illinois State Police said at least two other vehicles were involved in the crash.
All northbound lanes of traffic were shut down for eight hours between Routes 30 and 126.
All lanes reopened by 12:42 p.m.
