Chaos unfolded on Chicago's roads early Monday morning, as a multi-car crash on DuSable Lake Shore Drive near Oakwood Boulevard led to significant delays, with traffic halted during the rush hour on the South Side. According to FOX 32 Chicago, the incident occurred at around 6 a.m., and one of the vehicles was reported to have rolled over, resulting in the driver being trapped.
Rush hour commuters faced massive congestion, as the backup stretched from the crash site into the city on Hyde Park Boulevard. At this stage, the extent of any injuries remains unreported, and the particulars of what unleashed the series of events have not been disclosed. Meanwhile, the lake effect snow showers continued to add to the hazardous conditions, contributing to multiple spin-outs and other accidents throughout the region.
Further exacerbating the situation, another significant multi-vehicle crash shut down parts of DuSable Lake Shore Drive, as detailed in an account by NBC Chicago. The closure spanned from before Oakwood Blvd. to 31st street, with the traffic backing up from 53rd St. NBC 5 traffic reporter, Kye Martin, noted that an overturned vehicle caused at least one person to be entrapped in the wreckage.
As the snow persisted, numerous other incidents were reported across Chicago and its suburbs. NBC 5's Patrick Fazio commented on the situation from Waukegan, saying, "It is hard to see where the lanes are now," emphasizing the absence of snowplows, and highlighting the worsening of road conditions in northern Lake County. The Illinois Department of Transportation had warned that despite the plows' efforts by rush hour, roads would still be slick.
Over 50 crashes were also recorded overnight in northwest Indiana, according to Indiana State Police Sgt. Glen Fifeld. In addressing the perilous driving scenario, IDOT urged motorists to exercise caution and offered an online winter weather map for road conditions updates to help travelers navigate the risky circumstances.
