One dead in Tri-State Tollway crash near Wisconsin border

A Waukegan man was killed when the car he was riding in was hit by two large trucks on the Tri-State Tollway just south of the Wisconsin border, authorities said Thursday.

Saul E. Castro, 27, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, Lake County Coroner Artis Yancey said.

Yancey said an autopsy was planned and that a result likely would be available today.

Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Paul Carlos said Castro was a passenger in a 1997 Lexus ES 300 traveling in the far right lane and heading south on I-94 at mile marker .25 at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday when the unidentified driver swerved across four lanes of traffic for an unknown reason.

A semitractor hit the Lexus in the far left eastbound lane, causing it to spin out of control across the gravel median near Russell Road outside of Zion.

The car spun into the westbound lanes, where it was hit by a second semitrailer, Carlos said.

The front end and entire driver’s side of the vehicle were demolished in the crash.

The driver of the car was taken to Advocate Condell Medical Center in Libertyville with unknown injuries.

The crash forced state police from Illinois and Wisconsin to shut down I-94 for about an hour Wednesday night while the debris was removed and the accident investigated.

The highway was reopened about 8:45 p.m., Carlos said.

The accident is under investigation, he added, and charges are pending.