Authorities say the accident happened at approximately 5:15 a.m. near the intersection of Diversey and Kostner. Four others were also critically injured and transported to area hospitals.
Emergency crews extricated at least one person who became pinned in one of the vehicles.
According to the Cook County Medical Examiner, those killed were a man and woman, both 57 years old. Their identities were not being made public Sunday afternoon, but authorities did say the two were not related.
Authorities say one vehicle failed to stop at a red light and struck the other car, sending it into a pole and fire hydrant. The car that missed the light careened into the wall of a check cashing store.
The two people who died were in the car that was struck.
Police say drugs and alcohol were not a factor in the accident.
