Shooting along I-55 near Pulaski Rd. in Chicago creates big traffic backup
CHICAGO (CBS) -- A shooting on the Stevenson Expressway on the city's Southwest Side left one person injured and caused a massive backup in the inbound lanes beginning during the evening rush Wednesday.
Illinois State Police said they responded to the area of Interstate 55 northbound at Pulaski Road at 6:16 p.m. for a report of shots fired.
Following the shooting, three of four lanes were shut down.
CBS Skywatch was over the scene where multiple emergency vehicles were in the area, and a white sport-utility vehicle was seen stopped off the roadway in front of a light pole into which it had crashed. Officers were seen searching the area around the scene.
It was not clear how many people were in the SUV. But dispatch audio indicated that one person was seen lying on the street.
One victim was taken to an area hospital with injuries, though state police did not specify what those injuries were. It was also not clear late Wednesday how that person was doing.
Illinois State Police have not released information about the vehicle the shooters used—but with the shooting happening in the heart of rush hour, it is unlikely that the vehicle got away quickly.
So far in 2024 in the Chicago area, there have been 62 expressway shootings. As of this time last year, there were 92 shootings—with a total of 110 in all in 2023.
While highway shootings are down, the top three highways leading the troubling crime trend are the Dan Ryan, Bishop Ford, and Stevenson expressways.
Following the shooting, traffic was only being let by on the left shoulder of the inbound Stevenson following the shooting. Inbound traffic was being diverted off the interstate at Pulaski Road and allowed back on at Kedzie Avenue.
The Chicago Office of Emergency Management and Communications advised drivers to seek an alternative route. As of 10 p.m., it was not known how much longer the traffic disruption was to last.