A busy Chicago Heights intersection turned deadly Friday afternoon when a five-vehicle crash left two people dead and three juveniles injured at Chicago Road and Joe Orr Road. The violent collision, which mangled several cars and scattered debris across the area, shut down the major crossroads for hours as first responders swarmed the scene.
Police said officers were called around 4:30 p.m. for reports of a multi-vehicle crash at the intersection. Two drivers were pronounced dead at the scene, while three juveniles were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. The South Suburban Major Accident Reconstruction Team is now handling the investigation, according to CBS Chicago.
Chaotic Scene at a Busy Intersection
From above, the damage told the story. Footage from NBC Chicago's Sky 5 helicopter showed five heavily damaged vehicles on and off the roadway, airbags blown, and debris flung into nearby lawns. Traffic lights blinked over a scene that looked more like a scrapyard than a suburban intersection.
As emergency crews worked, Joe Orr Road was closed between Dixie Highway and Coolidge Street, and Chicago Road was shut down between Parkside and Glengate avenues, according to NBC Chicago. Drivers trying to cut through the south suburbs at the tail end of the workweek were instead forced into long detours and backups.
Power Outages and Gridlock
The fallout from the crash was not limited to traffic. Utility officials reported power problems in the surrounding area as crews responded. ComEd said roughly 353 customers lost electricity in the aftermath of the collision, according to ABC7 Chicago. The combination of road closures and outages added to the evening headaches for residents and commuters.
Investigation Still in Early Stages
Authorities have not yet released the names of the two people killed in the crash, and officials have not provided updated information on the conditions of the three hospitalized juveniles. As of Friday night, police had not announced a suspected cause of the pileup.
Investigators remained at the intersection into the evening, documenting the scene and working to reconstruct what led to the deadly chain reaction, CBS Chicago reports.
