Commuter Carnage In Chicago

Updated.

AROUND 5:20 pm CENTRAL TIME IN CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, a tractor-trailer rig coming off a freeway ramp failed to turn and plowed directly into an escalater or stairway that takes passengers to the elevated rail station.

Semi truck wedged into escalater shaft
under train station platform (Fox)

The crash happened at the Cermak/Chinatown station on the Red line. The early reports are saying that there are two fatalities so far and at least 17 injured. The two who were killed were apparently pedestrians that were on the sidewalk passing the station. The truck crashed through a bus shelter and then into the escalater/stairwell.

The truck is still wedged tightly into the station superstructure. “We’re working right now to get into the wreckage to find out if there are any more victims in there, triage anyone we find and deal with the medical situation,” said fire department spokesperson Larry Langford. “And also we’re dealing with the structural integrity of the CTA platforms and the glass walls and whatnot that are around the station.”

“It’s going to take a little time to get to anyone that’s in there, but we’re moving as fast as we can,” Langford added.

Ambulances stage for assignments (Fox)

The intial response brought 15 ambulances to the scene and a full triage was set up.

Update, 8:15 pm Eastern:
An EMS Plan III response has been called for the incident, according to dispatch reports. An EMS Plan III calls several ambulances, a district chief, deputy fire commissioner, EMS Triage van, and command van to the scene.

Chicago Tribune/Wambsgans photo

WMAQ, Ch. 5 reports:

Witnesses say the truck didn’t appear to slow down before it plowed into the station.

One eyewitness, David, said the truck was coming from Interstate 90/94, and was getting off at the Chinatown exit. The bus shelter where he was standing is located right across from the exit.

“He just very obviously lost control and just kept driving at probably a good 45 to 50 miles per hour right into the station, where everyone was waiting to catch the bus, probably, to go home,” David said. “When I turned around, it seemed like everyone had been hit or injured in some way.”

WMAQ-TV

Ch. 2 has a report and an early video HERE.

Update #2, 10:15 pm Eastern:
The death toll remains at 2 and the number of injured has risen to 21. The 51-yr.-old truck driver was taken to the hospital in stable condition. However he is refusing further treatment and is checking out of the hospital against doctors’ advice. He will be taken into police custody immediately upon leaving.

At 6:45 Central a tow truck began removing the truck from the structure. Fire crews then continued the extensive search for any more victims.

Chicago Tribune/Garcia photos