CHICAGO — A man died and two other people were injured in a crash that closed the Kennedy Expy. near O'Hare for hours and crippled the morning commute.
The fatal collision happened near the Cumberland Avenue exit about 6:10 a.m., authorities said.
Heading outbound on the Kennedy, a man driving a semitruck hit a pickup that was stopped in one of the middle lanes along with another car, said state Trooper Elizabeth Nanai, a State Police spokeswoman.
The driver of the semi tried to use his brakes as soon as he saw the vehicles — a Ford Explorer pickup and a Lincoln — but he couldn't stop in time, Nanai said. He hit the pickup, which hit the Lincoln, the trooper said.
A man in the pickup, later identified as 65-year-old Rufino Sanchez, was pronounced dead soon after the crash. Sanchez lived in the 3700 block of Central Park Avenue, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's Office.
State Police are investigating the crash, including why the two cars were stopped on the road, Nanai said.
The two other people injured in the crash were taken to Resurrection Hospital in good condition, Chicago Fire Department spokesman Kevin MacGregor said. Their ages and conditions were not available.
The accident blocked the Kennedy for hours, backing up traffic all the way to the Loop.
