A 45-year-old man was killed early Monday after a large piece of metal flew through his windshield on the outbound Dan Ryan Expressway, according to Illinois State Police.
The crash happened around 5:10 a.m. in the southbound express lanes near 29th Street. Troopers arrived to find a gray GMC Yukon with a shattered windshield and severe front-end damage against a concrete wall. Authorities said the impact appeared to have deployed the vehicle’s airbags.
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Police believe a large piece of metal came loose from a semi-trailer carrying an intermodal container and pierced the SUV’s windshield, striking the driver before the vehicle veered into the barrier. Chopper video from the scene showed the Yukon stopped in the left express lane with a gaping hole on the driver’s side of the glass.
First responders performed CPR at the scene before the driver was taken to a nearby hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. His name has not been released pending notification of family.
Investigators spent several hours examining debris in the roadway and inspecting nearby trucks that may have shed the metal object. The exact source of the debris has not yet been confirmed.
By 8:30 a.m., all southbound express lanes were reopened after the damaged SUV was removed. Traffic returned to normal as investigators continued their work to identify the vehicle responsible.
Illinois State Police are asking anyone who may have witnessed the incident or captured dashcam footage to contact them at 847-608-3200.
The crash underscores growing safety concerns over unsecured cargo and road debris incidents on Chicago’s major interstates — hazards that can turn deadly in an instant, even during the early morning commute.
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