Two crashes, one involving a Cook sheriff’s deputy, close I-80
BY SUSAN DEMAR LAFFERTY slafferty@southtownstar.com October 15, 2012 10:08AM
A Cook County Sheriff's Police vehicle is seen following a multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 80 west of LaGrange Rd. Monday, Oct. 15, 2012. | Matthew Grotto~Sun-Times Media
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Updated: November 17, 2012 6:09AM
A Cook County sheriff’s officer remained hospitalized Monday afternoon, but two other drivers were treated and released at Silver Cross Hospital after two accidents that shut down westbound Interstate 80 Monday morning.
The unidentified officer will undergo ankle surgery, sheriff’s spokesman Frank Bilecki said. He also suffered scratches and bruises, Bilecki said.
Traffic on I-80 was shut down for an hour while the accident was cleared.
According to Illinois State Police, the first accident occurred at 7:37 a.m. when a single vehicle in the left lane struck the concrete center median, causing traffic to back up.
A few minutes later, the sheriff’s officer — driving in the left lane — tried to brake as traffic slowed, and he struck another vehicle, about a quarter-mile east of the first accident, Trooper Stacie Eschmann said.
The second vehicle was pushed into a third vehicle, then spun out and hit a fourth vehicle, she said.
The officer was heading home for the day, after getting an oil change, Bilecki said.
All vehicles were towed from the scene and the expressway was reopened at 9 a.m., police said.
None of the drivers was charged, Eschmann said.
