Woman hospitalized after hitting tollway truck

A Palatine woman is hospitalized with a serve head injury after she rear ended a Illinois State Toll Highway Authority truck in Woodridge on Thursday, according to Illinois State Police.

Justyna Rak, 23, was trying to merge onto northbound I-355 from the 75th Street ramp when she struck the truck, causing it to overturn, said Master Sgt. Allison Renaud of the Illinois State Police.

After crashing into the truck, Rak - who was driving a black Honda Accord - then hit a nearby light pole, Renaud said.

"We haven't been able to talk to the driver yet, but the skid marks indicate she was trying to merge," Renaud said.

After the accident, two tollway authority workers were treated and released from the hospital. Rak was transported to Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital in Downers Grove. She was scheduled to undergo surgery on Thursday night, Renaud said.

The tollway authority workers were wearing seatbelts. Rak was not, Renaud said.

The accident occurred around 1 p.m. on Thursday. Police closed the northbound lanes of I-355 for about two hours while they investigated, Renaud said.

No tickets were given on Thursday, although the accident is still under investigation, Renaud said.