A violent overnight crash in Chicago's West Loop left two people dead early Sunday after a white car slammed into a highway support column and erupted in flames, authorities said.
The wreck happened at about 2:19 a.m. on Sunday, Feb. 15, 2026, on the 400 block of Jefferson Street near Van Buren Street. Fire crews moved in to knock down the blaze, and officers later found two people dead inside the burned-out vehicle.
According to ABC7 Chicago, Chicago police said the single-vehicle crash involved a white car that struck the support column and caught fire. Firefighters were already on scene when officers arrived, and the two occupants were pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released additional details about who they were or what may have led up to the crash.
Scene and response
Chicago Fire Department crews extinguished the flames while emergency teams secured the area for investigators. Traffic around Jefferson and Van Buren was disrupted in the early-morning hours as the charred vehicle and crash debris were examined.
As of the initial report, officials had not released the victims' names.
Investigation
Chicago police said the crash remains under investigation and offered no further information. This story will be updated as authorities release more details.
