Four-Car Pileup On Edens Brings Traffic To A Standstill

During rush hour Wednesday, traffic on the Edens Spur crawled to a standstill when four cars crashed one after the other like dominoes.

According to Illinois State Police, one driver didn't brake fast enough near where the expressway reduces lanes and slammed into the car in front. A third car crashed into that one, followed by a fourth car in what the police described as a "chain reaction." The accident happened around 4:45 p.m. about half a mile west of where the Edens Spur meets the Edens Expressway.

The driver and the passenger of the first vehicle in line sustained severe injuries, police reported. The driver was suspected to have broken his back and his passenger may have had a ruptured spleen, according to police. The driver in the second car, which initiated the crash, also sustained injuries. 

While traffic wasn't shut down entirely in the area, it was held up for at least a couple of hours, state police estimated.