Chicago police rescue dog running loose on Dan Ryan Expressway;1 hurt in fiery crash near 79th Street

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Chicago police rescued a dog that was running loose on the Dan Ryan Expressway near 71st Street Tuesday afternoon.

It's believed the dog jumped out of a car sometime before 4 p.m.

The dog then ran in the inbound lanes until it was finally caught by officers, according to police.

Illinois State Police responded to a two-car crash at 3:30 p.m. on the northbound Dan Ryan at 79th Street.

Both cars were driving in the left lane when traffic slowed down. For unknown reasons, one vehicle rear-ended the other. The car in the front became fully-engulfed in flames.

The vehicle that caused the crash fled, police said. The driver in the vehicle that caught fire was hospitalized with minor injuries.

Chicago police had located the dog on the Dan Ryan at 71st Street sometime before 4 p.m. Police and Animal Control removed the dog.

The incidents caused a huge backup in both directions of the expressway.

All lanes reopened at 4:15 p.m.