5 killed in 2 separate Eisenhower Expressway wrong-way crashes in Chicago, Forest Park
CHICAGO (WLS) -- A total of five people have been killed in two separate crashes on the Eisenhower Expressway Monday morning, Illinois State Police said.
Two women were killed in the first wrong-way crash on I-290 in west suburban Forest Park, state police said.
A woman was driving the wrong way in the eastbound lanes of the Eisenhower Expressway around 1:13 a.m. when she collided head-on with another car at Des Plaines Avenue.
The drivers of both cars were pronounced dead at the scene. A passenger in one of the vehicles was transported to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
A witness named Triniti was the first on scene and called 911. She said moments before the fiery crash, one of the drivers involved had just sped by.
A few good Samaritans rushed over to help. One man could be seen running toward the fire as the flames kept growing.
"They got out of the cars to go help," Triniti said. "There was this man in the green. He was there before the police. He really tried to save them."
Three people were killed in one crash involving three vehicles at about 1:39 a.m. on the inbound lanes of I-290 near Halsted Street.
A black Land Rover was traveling westbound in the eastbound lanes east of the I-90/94 split when it hit a Ford Edge, which then hit a third vehicle. Two of the cars then became engulfed in flames.
The drivers of the Land Rover and Edge and a passenger in the Edge were killed, state police said.
Two other people were taken in serious-to-critical condition to Stroger Hospital, police said. Another two refused treatment at the scene.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the victims.
