Fatal crash shuts down Edens Expressway Spur

Friday morning's nine-vehicle crash on the westbound Edens Expressway Spur near Northbrook has left a Waukegan man dead and two unidentified drivers in critical condition.

State police said a semitrailer truck, driven by Joe D. Buchannan, of Marengo, sideswiped at least six cars late Friday morning on the Edens Spur, setting off a chain reaction involving a total of nine vehicles including the truck.

The expressway was closed in both directions until about 3 p.m. The crash occurred at 11:35 a.m. near marker 49 and the Waukegan Road exit.

Daniel Cavazof Jr., 51, of Waukegan was pronounced dead at the scene.

Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Allison Renaud said a total of six drivers were sent to Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Highland Park Hospital in Highland Park and Glenbrook Hospital in Glenview. Four other victims refused treatment.

Renaud said the two unidentified victims at Advocate Lutheran General were in critical condition as of 9 p.m. Friday.

Renaud said charges against Buchannan are pending the results of blood and urine toxicology reports taken at the hospital.

The crash was the third on the Edens Spur this month. The two previous incidents, Renaud said, prompted the state police to deploy its truck and special enforcement teams to the area since June 6 to check trucks and enforce reduced speeds through construction zones along the stretch in northern Cook County.

"We've been doing everything we can to encourage everyone to be alert," Renaud said. "There's plenty of signage out there, too.

"We've even got a sign in Wisconsin, near the state line, urging drivers to slow down and be prepared for the backup caused by the Eden Spur construction."