Driver Seriously Injured In Car Accident Was Extricated: Police

NEW LENOX, IL — A person is in critical condition after a car accident early Thursday on I-80, according to the New Lenox Fire Protection District. The fire district said it received a call for service at 4:43 a.m. Thursday for an accident with injuries a mile east of Maple Street on I-80.

The district said a sedan was found pinned under the rear of a semi-trailer. Firefighters began extrication and were able to free the driver from the vehicle, and transported them to a local hospital.

According to Illinois State Police, the truck tractor semi-trailer and a vehicle were stopped on the left shoulder after a minor crash. However, a second crash occurred when another vehicle ran off the road at a high rate of speed and struck the rear of the stopped semi-trailer on the left shoulder.

Police said the driver of the vehicle was taken to a local hospital with "serious, but non-life threatening injuries."

The New Lenox Fire Protection District also had assistance from East Joliet Fire District, Mokena Fire District and Rendel’s Towing.