Two people were killed early Thursday when a car collided head-on with a semi-truck on Route 173 in Zion, a violent crash that also pulled a third vehicle into the wreckage and shut down a key stretch of the highway for hours. The road was closed between Kilbourne Road and U.S. 41 while emergency crews, crash investigators, and tow operators worked the scene.
According to ABC7 Chicago, the Lake County Sheriff’s Office said the two people who died were inside the car that struck the semi. Chopper 7 video showed the vehicles with heavy, catastrophic damage. Authorities had not yet released the victims’ identities as investigators continued their work.
Route 173 shut down for hours after deadly wreck
Patch reported that Route 173 was shut down from U.S. 41 to Kilbourne Avenue while deputies and first responders handled the aftermath, with the closure noted around 10 a.m. Drivers were urged to avoid the area as crews cleared debris and documented the scene, a process that stretched into late morning. Officials said more information would be released later Thursday.
Cause still unclear on a stretch with a deadly history
Authorities said the crash remains under investigation and declined to immediately share details on what led up to the head-on impact, according to ABC7 Chicago. The Route 173 corridor near Kilbourne has seen serious crashes in recent years, including a fatal head-on collision in 2023, FOX 32 Chicago reported. Officials said they will release further updates as they learn more about how this latest deadly wreck unfolded.
