Tag Archives: Elwood

Man killed in crash with semi on icy bridge in Elwood

(ELWOOD) A man was killed in a crash with a semi truck on an icy bridge Thursday morning in southwest suburban Elwood.

The crash happened at 5:25 a.m. on the Arsenal Road bridge between I-55 and Elwood International Port Road, Elwood Police Chief Fred Hayes said.

A 2003 Pontiac was westbound on Arsenal when the driver lost control and the car slid into the path of an eastbound 2005 Freightliner semi, Hayes said.

The driver of the Pontiac, a 32-year-old Park Forest man, was killed instantly, Hayes said. The Will County coroner’s office identified him as Maurice S. Powell.

A passenger in the Pontiac, a 39-year-old Richton Park man, was taken to Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet with serious injuries, Hayes said.

The driver of the semi, a 59-year-old Aurora man, was also taken to Saint Joseph with minor injuries and has since been released.

The Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction Team was called to assist with the investigation. Hayes said it appears the driver of the Pontiac lost control because the road was icy. No charges or citations have been issued.

Elwood railroad crossing closing Wednesday

(ELWOOD) A railroad crossing in southwest suburban Elwood is shutting down Wednesday.

Walter Strawn Drive will be closed to traffic at the Union Pacific Railroad tracks just west of Illinois Route 53 starting Wednesday, according to a statement from the Illinois Department of Transportation.

There will be no access to Walter Strawn Drive from Illinois 53 once the closure is in effect, IDOT said. Commercial vehicles that need to access intermodal terminals in Elwood are encouraged to use Arsenal Road via I-80 and I-55 as an alternate route.

The closure is necessary to meet the requirements of an Illinois Commerce Commission order, IDOT said.

Access to Ira Morgan Drive from Illinois 53 will not be affected, according to IDOT.

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