Three people were killed and five others were injured when a car slammed into a group of people standing near the scene of a separate crash on an Illinois highway, authorities said.
The incident happened just after midnight on Wednesday, Dec. 3, on Interstate 57 in Calumet Park, according to preliminary information from Illinois State Police.
Investigators said the initial collision involved three vehicles just south of 120th Street. A short time later, a second crash occurred when a different vehicle struck three people who were outside one of the vehicles from the first crash, state police said.
Three individuals were pronounced dead at the scene. Officials have not yet released their identities.
At least five other people were taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that are believed to be non-life-threatening, according to state troopers.
Witnesses at the scene described what they believed was an erratic driver just before the impact. One woman told CBS affiliate WBBM that a black vehicle appeared to be traveling at least 100 miles per hour before the crash.
Arthur Thomas told ABC affiliate WLS that his daughter was among those involved in the wreck. He said the crash unfolded when “a car sideswiped and then tried to run off the road.”
“The cars had hit a couple of more cars and they ran off the road and when she stopped, the car they hit in front of them,” Thomas explained. “I guess they knocked some people out the car and there was like three or four bodies on the expressway.” His daughter survived the crash, he said, according to CW affiliate WGN.
All lanes of I-57 were shut down following the incident and remained closed until about 7:50 a.m., authorities said. No additional details have been released as the investigation continues.
