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Chicago, IL (September 4, 2026) — A pedestrian was struck and killed on Wednesday night, September 2, on the southbound Dan Ryan Expressway near 95th Street in Chicago, according to state troopers. It happened around 11:20 p.m.
Troopers were first called to the area on a report of a wreck, and when they arrived, they found the victim, who had been struck by a car. The person was taken to a hospital, where they were pronounced dead.
The driver of the car stayed at the scene, troopers said. It remains unclear what led up to the collision. The investigation remained ongoing as this report was filed.
Our thoughts are with the victim’s family during this difficult time.
Why Expressways Are Dangerous for Pedestrians?
Expressways are built exclusively with vehicles in mind, with no crosswalks, sidewalks, or any other infrastructure that anticipates someone being on foot. Because of this, drivers genuinely don’t expect to see a pedestrian at all once they’re on the highway, which removes a level of visual scanning that drivers naturally do on ordinary streets.
Speed makes this gap even more dangerous. At highway speeds, the distance required to stop is far longer than the time it takes a driver to notice and react to an unexpected person in the road, especially at night, when headlights illuminate only a limited distance ahead and a pedestrian may not be easily visible until it’s too late.
Many pedestrian deaths on expressways happen after a vehicle breaks down or is otherwise stopped on the shoulder. If a vehicle does become disabled on a highway, safety experts generally recommend getting everyone out and away from the travel lanes, ideally behind a barrier or well off the roadway, rather than standing near the vehicle itself while waiting for help.
