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Nov 28, 2005 7:25 pm US/Central
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Pregnant Woman Struck, Killed On I-55
by Mike Parker
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
A freak accident on Interstate 55 has claimed the life of a young woman who was trying to get some help.
The victim's car stalled along the center median near Lemont Road. She safely crossed all the lanes of traffic to reach the right shoulder where she was then hit.
CBS 2's Mike Parker reports, her body was then dragged for miles.
Twenty-four-year-old Maura DeJesus, pregnant with her first child, was on her way to her job Monday morning. She was riding with a co-worker in a 1994 Astro van, when the vehicle broke down at the Stevenson's center divider near the Lemont exit.
Dejesus tried to get help. She ran across four lanes of traffic in a heavy rain and made it to the right shoulder. State police investigators say a woman driving a Lincoln Town Car then struck Dejesus. The young victim's body was dragged for approximately six miles.
"She believes there were some objects in the roadway and hit something then continued south to I-355 and 63rd Street," said Lt. Jeff Hedrich with the Illinois State Police.
It was at that location that another motorist noticed what was happening. DeJesus, who leaves behind one sister and two brothers, was discovered dead at the scene.
"Another driver saw the body. It was sticking out from the side of the car, signaled the driver of the vehicle to stop, the driver did stop," Hedrich said.
The woman who hit, then dragged the young victim, has been released without being charged, but investigators say the case has not been closed.
Anyone who witnessed the tragedy is urged to call the Illinois State Police at 847-931-2405.
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