2 Dead, 1 Hurt In Crash; Slippery Roads Likely A Factor

MANHATTAN, Ill. (STMW) -- Snow and slippery roads likely played a role in two-vehicle crash in the southwest suburbs Saturday that left two people dead and one person injured, police said.

A Dodge four-door car traveling southbound on U.S. Route 52 south of Cedar Road lost control about 1:10 p.m. near Manhattan and struck a Ford pickup traveling northbound in the oncoming lane, Illinois State Police Sgt. Scott Angus said.

The passenger of the Dodge was pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver died after being taken to Silver Cross Hospital in New Lenox, Angus said. Their genders and ages were not immediately known.

A second passenger in the Dodge was taken in critical condition to Silver Cross, Angus said.

"We've had several cars in ditches and multiple accidents today," Angus said. Road conditions on Route 52 were sleek and slippery at the time of the crash.

Mark Trost, the driver of the truck, said he and his wife, Kris, were not injured in the crash.

"They came out of the corner and got squirelly sideways and came right into my truck," Trost said. "It's a shame."

Up to two inches of snow could fall across the Chicago area Saturday, with greater accumulations expected in the south suburbs, according to National Weather Service meteorologist Ben Deubelbeiss.

Suburbs south of Interstate 80 and parts of Will County could see 3 to 5 inches Saturday night, according to the weather service.

Sunday's high of 32 degrees should offer Chicago a brief respite from the severe winter weather, but temperatures are expected to plummet early next week.

An arctic blast Monday could bring nighttime wind chills to 20 below zero. High temperatures could hover in single digits and teens for most of the week, Deubelbeiss said.

"We've had an active start to the weather year to say the least," Deubelbeiss said.