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WILMETTE, Cook County, Ill., Sept. 18, 2026 — At least two people were hospitalized on Thursday evening, September 17, after a crash involving a commercial vehicle and a bridge shut down lanes on I-94 near Wilmette. State police said multiple vehicles were reportedly damaged in the crash.
Illinois State Police said a commercial vehicle struck a bridge near Lake Street around 5:20 p.m. Thursday. Troopers who responded to the scene reported that several vehicles sustained damage, though the exact number was not specified.
All southbound lanes and two northbound lanes of the Edens Expressway were closed for a time as crews worked the scene. Drivers were urged to find alternate routes. By 8:15 p.m., state police said southbound traffic was moving again using the right lane and the shoulder.
State police confirmed that at least two people were taken to hospitals, though their conditions have not been released. Detectives said injury reports from the scene were still unclear in the hours after the crash. No additional details, including what led the commercial vehicle to strike the bridge, had been made public as of Thursday night.
The crash remains under investigation. No further information has been released.
We hope those who were hurt recover fully and quickly.
When Highway Crashes Involving Bridges and Overpasses Tend to Happen
Crashes involving bridges, overpasses, and other fixed highway structures usually cluster around the evening commute, when traffic volume is heaviest, and drivers are more likely to be fatigued or rushing. Thursday's crash near Wilmette happened around 5:20 p.m., a time when highway lanes typically carry the day's heaviest load of commercial and commuter traffic together.
Visibility and driver attention change through the day. In the early evening, glare from a low sun, sudden traffic backups, and lane merges near bridge supports can catch drivers off guard, especially those operating larger commercial vehicles that need more room to maneuver. Overhead structures such as bridges also create narrower clearances that leave less room for error compared with open roadway.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an estimated 2,442,581 people were injured in traffic crashes in 2023. Many of those crashes, like collisions involving fixed highway structures, happen in high traffic corridors where multiple vehicles are close together and reaction time is limited.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do weather and road conditions affect the likelihood of a highway crash?
Rain, fog, glare, and debris can all reduce a driver's ability to react in time, particularly near bridges or overpasses where lanes may narrow. Even in clear weather, heavy traffic volume during commute hours raises the chance of a chain reaction crash.
What should someone do immediately after a highway crash like this one?
Drivers should move to a safe area if possible, check for injuries, and call 911. It's important to exchange information with other involved drivers and, if safe, document the scene with photos before traffic resumes moving.
Where do most highway crashes involving structures like bridges occur?
These crashes tend to happen at points where lanes narrow, merge, or curve near an overpass or bridge support, frequently during periods of high traffic volume such as the morning or evening commute.
What to Do After a Car Accident in Wilmette, IL
If you're involved in a crash on a highway like I-94 near Wilmette, safety comes first. Move to the shoulder if your vehicle is drivable and it's safe to do so, turn on hazard lights, and check on the well-being of everyone in your vehicle before calling for help.
Even if injuries seem minor at first, it's worth getting checked by a medical professional, since some injuries from vehicle collisions aren't immediately obvious. Keep a copy of the police report and any medical records related to the crash for your own files.
If you witnessed a crash near Wilmette or were involved in one, cooperating with the responding troopers and providing accurate information helps investigators understand what happened and can support any follow-up steps you may need to take.
