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Police Officer Steven A. Smith, 25, dead and three injured in wrong-way crash on I-294 and Cermak Road near Oak Brook, Illlinois

Modified Date: 
Mon, 09/14/2015 - 6:33pm
Accident Date: 
Sunday, September 13, 2015

1 dead, 3 injured after I-294 wrong-way crash near Oak Brook(link is external)

One person is dead and three others are injured after a wrong-way crash on I-294 near Oak Brook.The crash, which involved three vehicles, happened early Sunday morning near Cermak Road when a wrong-way driver was traveling southbound in the northbound lanes, police said.All northbound I-PASS lanes at a toll plaza in the area are closed as crews work to clear the scene. The cash lanes at the plaza remain open.No other details have been released.

Chicago Ridge Police Officer Killed In Accident OnTri-State(link is external)

(CBS) '€” A Chicago Ridge police officer was killed in an accident on the Tri-State Tollway caused by a wrong-way driver Sunday morning, state police said. Officer Steven A. Smith, 25, was a passenger in one of three vehicles involved in the crash that happened around 3:45 a.m. near the Cermak Road Toll Plaza in Hillside. Two other people were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries. Chicago Ridge Police Chief Robert Pyznarski says Smith joined the department part time in 2010 and became full time in February 2015 and he is a veteran of the Marine Corps.

Illinois State Police investigate wrong-way fatal crash(link is external)

The Illinois State Police is investigating the crash, which happened at approximately 3:45 a.m. Sunday. A driver of a Toyota was heading south in the northbound lanes of Interstate 294 near Cermak Road. The Toyota struck a northbound vehicle which spun out of control and hit a third vehicle.

Officer's Death in Wrong Way Crash Spotlights Growing Problem(link is external)

Off-duty Chicago Ridge police officer Steve Smith, 27, was killed early Sunday in a wrong way crash on the Tri-State Tollway near Oak Brook. The Illinois Department of Transportation recently spent millions on safety improvements to warn drivers about wrong way driving, including the addition of more WRONG WAY signs on both sides of expressway ramps. The number of tragedies caused by drivers going the wrong way on Chicago area expressways is growing as safety experts call for more improvements aimed at preventing the deadly crashes. Smith joined the Chicago Ridge Police Department as a full-time police officer earlier this year. An NBC 5 Investigates analysis of state records shows more than 50 people have been killed and nearly 300 injured in Illinois as a result of wrong way crashes since 2005.
What you need to know after a serious Oak Brook car accident

When someone has been seriously injured in a car crash in Oak Brook, they are faced with unexpected medical costs and lost income. In the weeks and months following a car accident, injured people and their families can be overwhelmed as they struggle to manage day­-to­-day living.

After a serious or fatal car collision, it is crucial to quickly get the information needed to make good decisions. Getting appropriate medical treatment is just one aspect of healing. Finding help in handling the insurance claim that will begin financial recovery is another.

If the injuries are serious or if you have questions about what you should do, it is best to contact an experienced Oak Brook car accident attorney for a free, no­-obligation consultation. Serious injury accident claims are difficult to handle without the assistance of a lawyer who understands the process and can obtain the highest possible settlement. Learn more about Oak Brook car accident claims here.

Type: Car Accident
Topics: 
Wrong-way Crash
People Involved: 
Steven A. Smith
Roadway: 
I-294 and Cermak Road
City: 
Oak Brook, IL
County: 
DuPage County, IL
Area: 
Chicago, IL

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