An 18-year-old from Waukegan died after his motorcycle crashed into a van, leaving him ejected, before he was struck by a semi-truck on Interstate 294 near O’Hare Airport.
The Illinois State Police responded around 2:37 p.m. Thursday to the area of Interstate 294 near Wolfe Road in Franklin Park for a report of a vehicle crash with injuries.
Troopers arrived and found a three-vehicle crash in the southbound lanes, west of Wolf Road near milepost 37, according to state police.
The crash involved a motorcycle, a white Mercedes Van and a white semi-tractor-trailer truck.
State police said a preliminary investigation shows the Mercedes Sprinter van and the Freightliner semi-truck were traveling southbound on Interstate 294.
Both vehicles were proceeding slowly due to heavy traffic congestion.
The Kawasaki motorcycle, which was also traveling southbound, was weaving in between lanes of traffic, state police said.
The driver of the motorcycle lost control and struck the rear of the Mercedes van.
The driver of the motorcycle was ejected and landed in the roadway where he was struck by the semi-truck.
He was transported by ambulance to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, state police said.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office said the 18-year-old man died shortly after arriving at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood.
Lake and McHenry County Scanner was told that the victim is a Waukegan resident. His identity has not been publicly released yet.
The interstate was partially blocked as troopers investigated the crash.
State police said motorists are urged to slow down and move over as they approach any crash scene.
The crash remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police, which said no further information was available on the incident.
Editor’s Note: An earlier version of this story noted the victim resided in Gurnee. He actually resided in Waukegan on the border of Gurnee.