3 Semis Collide on Chicago Street, Injured Driver Cited By Police

JOLIET, IL — Joliet police closed both directions of Chicago Street for several hours Tuesday afternoon following a crash involving three semi-trailers.

The crash occurred around 1:35 p.m. near Patterson Road.

One semi-driver was hospitalized at AMITA St. Joe's hospital and his injuries were not life-threatening, authorities said. A second semi driver was also taken to the hospital with minor injuries, according to the Joliet Fire Department.

Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English provided the following account of the chain-reaction crash:

• The stoplight for southbound Chicago Street had turned red prior to the crash.
• A semi-truck driven by a 51-year-old Richton Park man was southbound on South Chicago Street approaching Patterson Road when he abruptly veered left into the northbound lanes to avoid striking a vehicle stopped at the red light.
• The Richton Park man tried to correct his semi back into the southbound lanes at which time he struck another semi driven by a 58-year-old Tinley Park man at Patterson Road.
• The Tinley Park semi driver then hit a semi driven by a 40-year-old Cicero man.
• The Richton Park man's semi tipped over, and he needed to be extricated.
• The Tinley Park man went to Silver Cross Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
• The Cicero man was not hurt.

Joliet police said the 51-year-old driver from Richton Park was cited for disobeying a traffic control device, driving while license suspended and operating without insurance.