'Biggest Fear' Realized For Construction Worker Killed On I-294

BARTLETT, IL -- Funeral services have been set for a construction worker who was killed while working along the Tri-State Tollway near Rosemont Friday night. A visitation for Frank Caputo, 59, of Bartlett will be held from 3 to 9 p.m. on Sept. 21 at Cumberland Chapels, 8300 W. Lawrence Avenue in Norridge. A funeral will be held on Saturday at the funeral home at 11:30 a.m.

Caupto was fatally struck by a driver who crossed into a construction zone Friday night near O'Hare International Airport. Caputo was working around 10:15 p.m. in the northbound lanes of I-294 near Higgins Road when a black Infiniti entered two lanes closed for roadwork and hit him before colliding with a parked Chevy van, according to state police and the medical examiner.

Caputo was taken to Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge and pronounced dead around 11 p.m. The driver, who has not been identified pending possible criminal charges, was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

"This incident tragically emphasizes once again the importance of drivers slowing down in work zones for the safety of our construction workers, Tollway maintenance workers, state police and first responders," Illinois Tollway officials said in a statement expressing sympathies to Caputo's family, friends and co-workers.

Caputo, a father of three, was helping crews replace damaged concrete, according to WGN. Lorraine Richards Caputo, his estranged wife, told the Chicago Tribune that Caputo's blood "ran concrete," and that he was extremely proud of the work he'd done over the years. Some of the construction projects he tackled included work on the Dan Ryan and Kennedy expressways, Lorraine said.

She told the newspaper Richard also knew it was a dangerous job and told her about the many close calls he'd had while working on busy roadways.

“His biggest fear was to die this way,” she said. “We are absolutely devastated.”

The vice president of the concrete company released a statement to WLS sending condolences for the tragic loss.

Charges are pending, but have not yet been officially filed, against the driver of the Infiniti, authorities told the Journal and Topics Newsletter. An Illinois State Police spokeswoman said it is not known if drugs or alcohol were a factor in the crash.

PHOTO VIA SHUTTERSTOCK