Jun 12, 2008 1:24 pm US/Central
No Charges Filed In Fatal I-57 Crash
CHICAGO (STNG) ―
Illinois State Police are investigating whether the driver who killed a highway worker and seriously injured another Wednesday afternoon on I-57 fell asleep while driving before fleeing the scene of the crash on the Far South Side. No charges had been filed as of Thursday morning.
The crash happened about 2:40 p.m. Wednesday in the southbound lanes of I-57 near 119th Street, authorities said. Two workers were struck while removing a sign warning drivers about a lane closure, according to IDOT spokesman Mike Claffey.
No charges had been filed as of 11:45 a.m. Thursday and police are investigating whether the 22-year-old motorist from Harvey fell asleep prior to the crash, ISP District Chicago said.
Jose M. Chavez, 41, of 1627 Clarence Ave. in Berwyn, was pronounced dead at 3:31 p.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, the Cook County Medical Examiner's office said.
Nicholas Tapia, 39, was treated for minor injuries and released from Stroger Hospital.
Responding troopers apprehended the driver, who also struck a construction truck before running off on foot.
Chavez is the first worker killed in a highway work zone in 2008.
"It is imperative that drivers slow down and use caution in work zones, so tragedies like today's incident along I-57 can be avoided," Gov. Blagojevich said in a statement Wednesday. "My heart goes out to their families, friends and co-workers."
(Source: Sun-Times News Group Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2008. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)
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