Driver, 23, Dies In Fiery Route 6 Crash, Passenger Hospitalized

JOLIET, IL —The Joliet Police Department closed a section of Route 6 on Friday morning as officers investigated a fiery overnight wreck that killed the 23-year-old driver and ejected his 34-year-old passenger.

The passenger suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center, according to Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English.

At 3:25 a.m., Joliet Fire Department paramedics and Joliet squad cars rushed to the scene of the crash at Route 6 and Terminal Court. A car was flipped on its side, wrapped around a traffic signal pole,and engulfed in flames, according to Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey.

The area of Route 6 and Terminal Court is near the now-shuttered Caterpillar manufacturing plant.

"A preliminary investigation indicates that a sedan driven by a 23-year-old male driver was located overturned and engulfed in flames after it appeared the vehicle had struck a traffic signal on the southeast corner of the intersection," Joliet police announced.

After firefighters put out the burning car, authorities discovered the driver's body inside.

"Unfortunately, the driver succumbed to injuries at the scene. This crash is currently under investigation by the Joliet Police Department Traffic Unit," Sgt. English stated in his news release.