A pre-dawn crash on the southbound Dan Ryan Expressway near 26th Street left at least one person dead Friday and turned the early commute on Chicago’s Near South Side into a slow-moving mess. Emergency crews and state troopers worked the scene in the dark while drivers were pushed off the Ryan and onto nearby routes.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the wreck happened near 26th Street and that at least one person was pronounced dead at the scene, while Illinois State Police led the on-site investigation. State police said southbound traffic was diverted to I-55 during the closure and that the Dan Ryan lanes were reopened at about 5:20 a.m., according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Traffic and local context
The shutdown created delays across the Near South Side as morning traffic spilled onto alternate highways and surface streets, stretching commutes while investigators pieced together what happened. The Dan Ryan has seen multiple serious wrecks in recent months, including a fatal rollover in late May that closed lanes for hours, as reported in coverage of the deadly Dan Ryan rollover.
What officials say
Illinois State Police are leading the investigation and “did not immediately respond to a request for comment,” according to the Chicago Sun-Times. This story will be updated as authorities release more details.
