OAK LAWN FATAL CRASH: 'It Was Like A Tornado Went Through There'

Caption: Oak Lawn firefighters at the scene of a deadly 11-car accident at 95th Street and Cicero Avenue on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2014.

Oak Lawn police are still sorting out an 11-car accident that left three people dead and 11 others injured on Sunday afternoon.

Early reports indicate that a silver pickup traveling westbound on 95th Street may have been going as fast as 70 mph, when the driver lost control of the truck and swerved into the eastbound lane, striking a line of cars waiting for the light to change.

A man reportedly driving the pickup truck was pronounced dead on arrive at Advocate Christ Medical Center. Two people in a car that had been waiting for the light to change were dead, and eleven others injured.

The Oak Lawn Fire Department performed several extrications at the scene to get the injured out of their vehicles where they could be taken to area hospitals.

Read, ‘Police Confirm 3 Dead, 11 Injured In 95th Street Car Crash’

The two most critically injured victims were rushed to Advocate Christ. The rest were brought to Little Company of Mary Hospital in Evergreen Park and Palos Community Hospital in Palos Heights.

Division Chief of Detectives Randy Palmer, spokesman for the Oak Lawn Police Department, said during an evening press conference that the accident occurred around 4:27 p.m. Sunday.

Names of the deceased were not being released until their families could be notified.

Earlier witnesses reported that they saw the driver of the pickup allegedly slumped at the wheel at 95th Street and Western Avenue. When the witnesses asked the driver if he needed help, the silver pickup continued driving eastbound on 95th Street, Village Manager Larry Deetjen said.

The pickup is believed to have struck a vehicle at 95th Street and Keeler Avenue, where it ran a red light, according to Deetjen.

The accident occurred just east of Cicero Avenue, in the 4800 block of West 95th Street.

Palmer said it was too early in the investigation to determine of alcohol was involved.

“Witnesses said they saw him in traffic. They approached the vehicle but didn’t say he appeared to be under the influence of anything. We probably won’t know for some time until [toxicology tests] come back,” Palmer said. “We’re still speaking with witnesses. We have nothing solid or confirmed.”

Palmer said he wasn’t aware of any pursuit involved the pickup truck and Evergreen Park or Chicago police. He described the crash as horrific.

“To me it appeared like a tornado went through there,” Palmer said.

Investigators remained at the debris field near 95th and Cicero late Sunday evening, reconstructing the accident.

Another press conference is scheduled for Monday morning.