Car Plunges Into Des Plaines River After Driving Off Jefferson Street Bridge, Bridge Closed For Now: Police

JOLIET, IL — Jefferson Street heading into downtown Joliet was shutdown on Saturday evening as one eyewitness revealed he saw the car drive off the Jefferson Street Bridge.

Later, Joliet police spokesman Dwayne English relayed the following statement to Joliet Patch, at 7 p.m., advising that a vehicle was eastbound on Jefferson approaching the Jefferson Street Bridge and struck the bridge and entered the Des Plaines River. Officers are still blocking the roadway and the bridge remains closed at this time. The Joliet Fire Department remains on the scene as well, English explained.

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Earlier, one eyewitness shared the following post on the Joliet Police Facebook page: "a driver was reported to be driving obnoxiously and paramedics were behind him and he crashed into the bridge post, flipped the car and car went over the bridge into the water. Car sank immediately and the driver was rescued by a bowie and paramedics and has been taken to the hospital. I pray for him and everything he is going thru."

At 4:50 P.M., Joliet police advised that Jefferson Street as currently closed in the area of the Jefferson Street bridge as officers investigate a traffic crash. An update will be provided when the roadway is reopened, the statement read.