1 dead after fiery 5-vehicle crash on Kennedy Expressway
A fiery multi-vehicle crash turned deadly overnight Tuesday into Wednesday, shutting down the Kennedy Expressway.
Just before 10:30 p.m., Illinois State Police said five cars were involved in a crash on the inbound Kennedy (Interstate 90), near the Natoma Avenue overpass. ISP said three cars went off the roadway and crashed into a light pole before becoming engulfed in flames.
As seen on video from the scene, traffic crawled along the expressway as smoke billowed from the cars and firefighters worked the scene.
State police said a driver was pronounced dead at the scene.
The Chicago Fire Department said one person went to the hospital, and three refused treatment. The condition of the hospitalized person was not immediately available.
Other video, taken around 11 p.m., showed the aftermath of the crash — with three cars piled up on the shoulder with smoke still rising. All the cars were badly damaged and burned from the crash.
A black sport-utility vehicle with some damage to its back passenger side was also pulled over.
The multi-car crash shut down the inbound Kennedy for hours between Sayre and Austin avenues. All lanes reopened around 3:36 a.m., police said.
The cause of the crash is unknown at this time.
