Woman Picking Up Uber Passenger Shot On Eisenhower Expressway
CHICAGO (CBS)-- A woman who was picking up a passenger for Uber was shot while driving on the Eisenhower Expressway overnight.
Illinois State Police said shots were fired on inbound Interstate 290 around midnight at Western Avenue. Bullet holes were found on the driver's side window and both the front and back seat windows were shattered.
CBS 2's Meredith Barack has learned the woman driving the car was shot several times, including her leg, arm, and near her spinal cord; and was being treated at Stroger Hospital of Cook County. Her condition was not immediately available.
The woman was driving an Uber passenger at the time. The passenger in the car was not shot.
"This reported act of violence is alarming. We're working to get in touch with the driver to check on their wellbeing, and wish them a quick recovery. We're standing by to assist law enforcement with their investigation," Uber spokeswoman Austen Radcliff said in an email.
The Independent Drivers Guild of Illinois, which provides free support and services to rideshare drivers, said they're concerned for the overall safety of drivers.
"We've seen gig workers carjacked, shot and killed, sexually assaulted, and now victims of random acts of violence like last night's shooting or having passengers be the target of a shooting in their back seats," a spokesperson said in an email.
Illinois State Police say the inbound lanes were temporarily diverted off at Damen avenue as they investigated.
No arrests have been made.
So far this year, Illinois State Police have responded to 13 shootings on Chicago area expressways. At the same time last year, there had been 14 expressway shootings.
Overall last year, Illinois State Police responded to a total of 264 shootings on Chicago area expressways in 2021.