A pre-dawn crash on northbound Interstate 57 near the Calumet River in Blue Island early Saturday left one person dead and an Illinois Department of Transportation worker in the hospital, according to Illinois State Police. The multi-vehicle collision happened around 4:45 a.m. and shut down two northbound lanes while investigators worked the scene.
Illinois State Police told ABC7 Chicago that one person was pronounced dead at a local hospital, and that the victim’s identity had not yet been released. The outlet also reported that the IDOT worker was taken to a hospital, though the worker’s condition was not immediately available. Accident reconstruction crews closed two northbound lanes as they examined the scene, and the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
This latest wreck is part of a troubling string of incidents this month involving highway crews and stopped vehicles on Chicago-area expressways. On June 14, an IDOT Emergency Traffic Patrol truck was struck on the Dan Ryan express lanes, sending an IDOT worker and a motorist to area hospitals, as reported by CBS Chicago.
Why work zones are dangerous
National data show that work zones continue to be hazardous for both drivers and road crews. A Federal Highway Administration work-zone factsheet, using figures from NHTSA and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reported roughly 891 work-zone fatalities in 2022 and about 94 highway-worker occupational fatalities at road construction sites that same year. Research from NIOSH finds that struck-by incidents, meaning a worker is hit by a vehicle or equipment, account for a large share of fatal injuries in these environments.
Traffic and investigation
Traffic was pushed onto the right shoulder past the crash site while the reconstruction team worked, slowing down the morning commute. According to ABC7 Chicago, two northbound lanes remained closed during the initial investigation. Illinois State Police are leading the probe and urged drivers to steer clear of the area until crews can fully clear the scene.
The crash is a stark reminder of the risks roadway crews face and the need for drivers to slow down, move over when possible, and stay alert in and around work zones. This story will be updated as officials release more information.
