1 Dead, Another Seriously Injured While Helping Stranded Motorist

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — One of two men hit by a car on Interstate 57 near Interstate 80 during rush hour Thursday morning has died as the other remains hospitalized in serious condition. Illinois State Police identified the fatal victim as Gregory Campbell, 52, of Chicago Heights. Campbell and a 43-year-old man from Chicago Heights were struck by a white Acura while attempting to put gas in a stalled black Pontiac that was parked on the right shoulder of I-57 near where it intersects with I-80 at 7:05 a.m. on Feb. 27.

Illinois State Police said the driver of the Acura, a 26-year-old Richton Park woman, veered to the right shoulder in an attempt to avoid hitting a car in front of her when traffic came to a sudden stop. The car hit the two men and the back end of the Pontiac, police said.

The driver of the Pontiac, a 43-year-old Park Forest woman, was not injured. The Acura driver was hospitalized with "no significant injury," police said.

The crash caused a complete shutdown of the northbound lanes of I-57 for three hours during the morning rush as police began an investigation. Traffic headed that way was diverted to eastbound I-80, a WGN traffic report showed. Both I-57 and I-80 had heavy delays throughout the morning as a result.

Backups on I-57 were reported to have been extended all the way south to Sauk Trail near Richton Park. All lanes were reopened at 10:14 a.m., state police said.