Jeffery Komada, 54, of Des Plaines, was a teacher at Taft High School for more than 30 years, his wife said. He was most recently the director of technology at the school.
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At about 10 a.m., Komada was helping a female driver, who had her young daughter with her, after her vehicle was having trouble on southbound I-294 near West Touhy Avenue.
A semi truck hit Komada as he was standing outside his vehicle. He was transported to Lutheran Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The semi truck driver was identified as a 63-year-old LaPort, Ind., man.
According to Illinois State Police, a Ford Windstar minivan was stalled in traffic when Komada's Honda CR-V rear ended it. The driver of a Volkswagen, the mother with the child, then rear ended Komada's Honda. After the initial fender bender, the mother and daughter were inside Komada's Honda when a semi truck struck Komada, who was standing outside his vehicle. The unoccupied Volkswagen was also hit.
State police are investigating. No citations have been issued.
Taft Principal Mark Grishaber issued a statement that said Komada "was an esteemed colleague and he was a friend to everyone in the building. Last year he was one one of our teachers who was Educator of the Year. He was one of the kindest people I have ever met. He will be missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."