Illinois state police are asking the public for information after an SUV driver was killed when a large metal object went through their windshield on the Dan Ryan Expressway on Monday morning.

Investigators are asking for dash cam or witnesses who saw the object fall off a semitrailer, hitting the SUV.

ISP said the metal object from a semi-trailer with an intermodal container went through the windshield of a gray GMC Yukon and hit the driver around 5 a.m. The SUV ended up against the wall in the outbound express lanes near 29th Street.

The driver, only identified as a 45-year-old man from Chicago, was taken to a hospital where he later died.

The crash shut down the outbound express lanes on I-94 for hours before and during the morning rush, and reopened around 8:30 a.m. Inbound I-94 was also delayed with gapers.

"Obviously, it must have been a big object to cause this kind of damage. Very disturbing story," Joe Schwieterman said. "We just have to, you know, find ways to make that corridor safer for people, and to see that we lost a life by an object today just indicates that a lot of people are scared using urban freeways, and this doesn't help."

Schwieterman, a DePaul University professor and transportation expert, said drivers should remember to keep their distance when driving.

"The single biggest thing is just stop tailgating so you have a little bit of room, a little bit of opportunity to react if suddenly you see a projectile or something on the road," he said.

Investigation into the crash remains ongoing by the Illinois State Police.

Anyone driving in the area or who witnessed the crash is asked to please contact ISP Special Agents at 847-608-3200.