1 Dead, 1 Hurt In Alcohol-Fueled I-57 Crash
MARKHAM, Ill. (STMW) - One man was killed and another critically injured early Saturday after their car sped off the expressway and crashed into a fence and a tree near south suburban Markham, officials said.
The one-vehicle crash happened at 2:07 a.m. in the inbound lanes of Interstate 57 near Kedzie Avenue, an Illinois State Police master sergeant said.
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A 2001 Oldsmobile, driven by a 28-year-old man, lost control, veered off to the right shoulder and struck a fence before colliding with a tree, the master sergeant said.
The only passenger, -- identified by the Cook County Medical Examiner's office as John C. Vivetter -- was killed.
Vivetter, of 6201 S. Champlain Ave., was pronounced dead at 3:13 a.m. at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, the medical examiner's office said.
The driver was also transported to Christ Hospital in critical condition, State Police said.
Witnesses told police the vehicle was moving at a high rate of speed, and authorities think alcohol may be a factor in the crash, the master sergeant said. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash.
The wreck shut down all inbound lanes of the expressway starting at about 4 a.m., and at least one or two lanes are expected to reopen about 6:30 a.m., he said. Vehicles are using the left shoulder to travel through the area in the meantime.
State Police are investigating.
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