Motorcyclist seriously hurt in accident on Elgin-O'Hare

A man was injured Wednesday after being thrown from his motorcycle while trying to avoid hitting cars that stopped in front of him on the Elgin-O'Hare Expressway, state police said.

Master Sgt. Kris Melvin said the motorcyclist was traveling west about 8:10 a.m. on the expressway near Roselle Road.

He said traffic slowed in front of the motorcyclist - whose identity was being withheld by police - and he swerved his Suzuki into a ditch to avoid striking the other vehicles.

The motorcycle slid on gravel and grass and the rider was thrown into the ditch, Melvin said.

He was taken to Alexian Brothers Medical Center in Elk Grove Village with life-threatening injuries. Melvin said later Wednesday afternoon that police were unsure of the man's condition, but he underwent surgery and was transferred to intensive care.

Melvin said all four westbound lanes of the expressway were closed for 15 minutes while the motorcyclist was treated and then transported to the hospital. The expressway was then down to only one lane for about 45 minutes before reopening completely.