An early Monday crash on Chicago's North Side turned West Irving Park Road into a traffic nightmare, shutting down a key stretch of the corridor just as commuters were heading to work. Emergency crews blocked the roadway between North Kimball and North Spaulding while they worked a chaotic scene that left one driver in critical condition and two passengers from the same vehicle treated at the scene and at a hospital.
Crash details and investigation
According to Chicago police, a light-colored Volkswagen and a light-colored Kia were both traveling westbound in the 3300 block of West Irving Park Road when they collided. The impact sent the Kia, driven by a 34-year-old woman, into a tree, while the Volkswagen slammed into a nearby residential building.
The driver of the Volkswagen took off after the crash, police said. The Kia’s driver was rushed to an area hospital in critical condition. A 38-year-old male passenger in the Kia was treated for cuts, while a 26-year-old male passenger declined medical treatment.
In the immediate aftermath, West Irving Park Road was shut down between North Kimball and North Spaulding. The Chicago Transit Authority temporarily rerouted No. 80 Irving Park buses in both directions as first responders cleared debris and assessed the damage. The Major Accidents Unit has opened an investigation into the crash, police said, according to WGN-TV.
Commuter impacts and what comes next
The closure threw a wrench into the morning rush, backing up traffic along the Irving Park corridor and forcing drivers and bus riders to scramble for alternate routes. Police have asked anyone with information about the crash to contact investigators as the Major Accidents Unit works to piece together exactly what happened.
As of the initial report, authorities had not issued any citations and had released only limited details, with more information expected as the investigation progresses.
