Wrong-Way Crash: Chicago Firefighter Killed In I-57 Wreck

COUNTRY CLUB HILLS, IL — Two people were killed Sunday night in a wrong-way crash on northbound I-57 north of the I-80 interchange. Illinois State Police said a preliminary investigation showed a 2009 Hyundai sedan was driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes when it struck a 2005 Jeep.

The Hyundai then hit a guardrail at a high rate of speed and burst into flames, police said.

A spokesman for the state police said the driver of the Hyundai was identified as Brian Schofield, 55, of Chicago, according to the Chicago Tribune. Police told the Tribune that neither driver was wearing a seat belt. No passengers were in either vehicle.

It was unclear why Schofield was driving the wrong way on I-57.

A spokesman for the Chicago Fire Department said Schofield was a firefighter who worked in the Chicago Fire Department's Fire Prevention Bureau, ABC Chicago reported. Schofield was headed back to the Beverly neighborhood from Country Club Hills at the time of the crash, a relative told ABC.

The news of Schofield's death was another blow to the Chicago Fire Department as it laid diver Juan Bucio to rest on Monday. Watch Patch's livestream of the procession taking Bucio to his final resting place.

The name of the other driver killed had not yet been released as of late Monday morning.

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