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Man Dies From Crash On I-55 Near Plainfield

PLAINFIELD, Ill. (STMW) -- The driver of a car that became disabled in traffic on the Stevenson Expressway early Wednesday near southwest suburban Plainfield was killed when a semi plowed into his car and another car that stopped to help.

The crash happened about 1:32 a.m. when a semi-truck plowed into two stopped vehicles near mile marker 260, just outside of Plainfield, according to Illinois State Police. The chain of events leading to the crash started when a 26-year-old man lost control of the 2006 Mazda he was driving on southbound I-55 and struck a center median wall, state police said.

The Mazda became disabled in the left lane, without its lights on, according to state police. A little while later, a motorist driving a 2002 Pontiac stopped to offer assistance, but before both vehicles could be moved from the roadway, the semi drove through, striking both, state police said.

The driver of the Mazda was airlifted to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove, where he subsequently died, according to state police. No other injuries were reported.

Travel on I-55 was stopped in both directions so the injured man could be airlifted from the scene. By about 3 a.m. both directions were open to travel again, state police said.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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