Northbound traffic on Interstate 294 near Des Plaines turned deadly Wednesday afternoon when a multi-vehicle crash left at least one person dead and choked off a key stretch of the Tri-State Tollway near O'Hare.
State police: What we know
Illinois State Police Troop 3 said the collision occurred around 4:40 p.m. on northbound I-294 just north of Golf Road. The impact shut down the left three lanes for a time as troopers and emergency crews moved in to secure the scene and manage traffic, according to FOX 32 Chicago.
Authorities did not immediately release details on how the crash happened or whether anyone else was hurt, keeping the focus on clearing the wreckage and documenting the scene during the height of the evening rush.
Traffic impacts and local context
Drivers were urged to steer clear of the area as backups quickly built along the Tri-State through the Des Plaines corridor. Crews worked to reopen lanes while also preserving space for investigators to do their work.
The nearby Golf Road interchange has already been a bit of a headache for motorists, with toll plaza and ramp repairs underway in recent months. Those ongoing projects can complicate detours and local traffic patterns, according to updates from the Illinois Tollway.
What happens next
The crash remains under investigation by state troopers and crash reconstruction specialists, who are working to piece together what led up to the deadly impact. Officials said additional information will be released when it becomes available, FOX 32 Chicago reported.
In the meantime, drivers should plan for lingering delays in the area as cleanup continues and investigators finish their work along the busy tollway stretch.
