A Thanksgiving weekend tragedy unfolded on the streets of Chicago on Wednesday night when a wrong-way driver, traveling at a high rate of speed, crashed into seven other vehicles on Chicago’s South Side.
CNN reports that the crash has left two people dead and 16 others injured.
Chicago officials say that the fatal crash happened at approximately 5:00 p.m. on the South Side of Chicago when a black Dodge Charger was traveling northbound in the southbound lane of Cottage Grove at a ‘very high rate of speed.’ Chicago Police Department Superintendent David Brown said in a statement. The Charger entered the intersection of Cottage Grove and 87th, where it struck seven other vehicles.
The Charger then stopped, facing southbound, when it suddenly burst into flame, killing both the driver and passenger.
“This is a really bad crash,” Chicago Fire Department spokesperson Larry Langford said.” I have seen many, and this is among the worst.”
Chicago Police investigators say that the Dodge Charger had been reported stolen before causing the chain reaction crash.
Ten people; three men, three women, and five children, were taken to area hospitals for minor to moderate injuries. A 16th person was also injured in the crash but refused treatment.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation. While speed was definitely a factor, intoxication by drugs and/or alcohol has not been ruled out.
