Fatality on I-80, Minor Accidents and Traffic Backups

Illinois State Police and local police departments were involved in the investigation of at least four traffic accidents Wednesday afternoon that led to traffic backups on Interstate 80, Interstate 355 and Interstate 57.

Illinois State Police confirmed that one person was killed about 1 p.m. Wednesday on Interstate 80 at Harlem after a Ford SUV rear-ended a dump truck. According to the report, at least one person was trapped. The victim's identity has not yet been released.

READ: 1 Person Killed in I-80 Crash Near Harlem Avenue (Update)

The investigation in the aftermath of the fatal accident resulted in traffic backups that ISP blamed for three follow-up crashes. ISP said there was another accident about 3:30 pm. at the ramp off I-80 at LaGrange Road. It was a minor accident that was handled by Orland Park Police, but it exacerbated the traffic situation.  

Traffic congestion was blamed for a second crash Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 80 near Harlem Avenue, according to state police.

In the meantime, the ripple effects of accidents on Interstate 80 spread to southbound Interstate 355 at Interstate 80, ISP said. The situation grew more complicated when two semi-trucks crashed and were moved to the shoulder of the road. No injuries were reported, ISP said.

Motorists complained of traffic backup on southbound Interstate 57 leading to I-80.

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