Infant dies after I-290 crash, family says; aunt charged

FOREST PARK, Ill. (WLS) -- A 10-month-old boy who was critically injured in a crash on the Eisenhower Expressway died Tuesday, his grandmother told ABC7 Eyewitness News.

The infant was inside the blue 2000 Hyundai Elantra, which had stopped in the right lane of eastbound I-290 near Desplaines Avenue around 3:20 a.m. Sunday, Illinois State Police said. A silver 2001 Honda Odyssey, driver by a 50-year-old Chicago man, slammed into the car.

The child, identified by his grandmother as T.J. Hughes Jr., sustained two broken legs, a broken arm and a skull fracture. She said he was in the vehicle with his 25-year-old aunt after visiting her house in nearby Maywood for a post-Thanksgiving gathering. They were headed back to T.J.'s home in Chicago when the crash occurred.

State police said T.J. not correctly secured in a proper child safety seat. He was rushed in critical condition to Loyola University Medical Center and put on life support. His grandmother

Two adults were also taken to Loyola. Their conditions were not released. Alcohol was believed to be a factor in the crash.

T.J.'s aunt was charged with aggravated driving under the influence with great bodily harm, state police said. Her court information was not available.

The Sun-Times Media Wire contributed to this report.