UPDATE: Truck Driver Held In Horrific Crash at 'L' Stop

CHICAGO (WBBM) ― Truck driver Don Wells remains in police custody after his 18-wheeler plowed into the busy Cermak-Chinatown 'L' stop, killing two people and injuring 21.

The women killed are Delicia Brown,18, of the 7300 block of South Albany Avenue, and Eloisa Guerrero, 47 of the 2500 block of South Trumbull Avenue.

The Red Line stop at the gateway of Chinatown reopened at 10 a.m. Saturday morning, but the main entrance is still closed.

As of Saturday, the damage was still easily visible at the scene. Police cars remained at the scene with their lights running as the investigation contunes.

The 18-wheeler smashed without warning into the street-level bus shelter at the Cermak-Chinatown stop, then "climbed the stairs" of the station's north stairwell around 5:20 p.m., said Fire Department spokesman Larry Langford.

A witness said the truck appeared to be out of control as it sped at about 50 mph down the Cermak exit of the Dan Ryan Expressway moments before crashing.

You don't expect a big semi to come at you from the Dan Ryan," said witness Robert Moore. "It came 40, 50 miles an hour everyone was flying just like toys."

Twenty-one people were taken to area hospitals, Langford said. Eleven are in critical condition, including four children. Eight adults are in stable condition and two adults were in good condition.

Most of those injured were either in the bus shelter underneath the elevated train station or in the stairwell of the station, fire department Rodriguez said.

Of four people at Stroger Hospital of Cook County, a 26-year-old woman with significant injuries remained hospitalized as of Friday night, as well as an 11-year-old girl in stable condition, and a 14-year-old boy from the North Side who has been released.

At Provident Hospital a 42-year-old woman and a 39-year-old-man were hospitalized with blunt trauma wounds. Two other women are in fair condition at Northwestern University Medical Center.

It was not immediately clear Saturday how many patients remained in hospitals.

Wells, 51, the truck driver, is among those taken to Stroger in an ambulance under police guard. Some witnesses said he appeared to be slumped over in the cab of the truck as though asleep at the time of the cab.

It took rescuers an hour to extricate him from the cab of the truck.

Hospital spokesman Sean Howard said Wells tested negative following a blood alcohol examination, but that he refused a urinalysis. He apparently was brought to Stroger conscious but in an ambulance already accompanied by police officers.

Howard said Wells was advised to stay at the hospital.

"As far as out care of him, we informed him that he should remain here for treatment. He indicated issues concerning his insurance his medical insurance," Howard said.

Still, a CAT scan revealed he had no head injuries, and at Wells' insistence the hospital administered no further medical care and he was released into police custody. No charges had been filed as of mid-day.

The truck is operated by Plymouth, Mich.-based Whiteline Express Ltd., the company confirmed Saturday. The company would make no further comment

The intersection has a risky reputation because the traffic lights there change quickly, said Meekus Wong, who works at a restaurant located directly in front of the train station.

"That was always a very dangerous intersection because the traffic lights switch really fast," she said.

"I was supposed to take the train. Thank God I took the bus," she added.

Engineers determined there was no structural damage to the overhead station, but the stairs sustained "very significant damage," said CTA President Ron Huberman. Trains on the Red Line, which runs to 95th Street from downtown, will not stop at the station until further notice, he said.

Dazed, in shock and bleeding, the injured seemed to be everywhere near the gateway to Chinatown.

"It looked like Armageddon, the end of the world," said witness Robert Moore. "People flying everywhere, a lot of people hurt that weren't expecting it."

"He just kept going, he was kind of bent down on the steering wheel like had a heart attack or went to sleep," witness Daryl Holbert said of the truck driver.

Red Line service was interrupted following the crash, and thousands of people got stuck as they tried to get home on the Red Line after work, or get to the White Sox game.

"I'm a little nervous," commuter Mike Arbagi said outside the Grand Avenue Red Line stop Friday afternoon. "I'll try to maybe take a cab or some other form of transportation."

"This guy told me, 'Hey, you have to wait,' but I don't have any idea," commuter Alejandro Rincon said after trying to get on the Red Line Friday afternoon.

Cermak Road was also closed for several hours after the crash.

The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago has activated its Patient Connection Program to help reunite families of CTA riders who may have been injured in the incident and taken to an area hospital. Those looking for loved ones who may have been involved in the crash, please call the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago at (312) 729-6200.

Print Page

Email This Page

Featured Audio

The Bears Report: Tom Thayer
WBBM Game Day Analyst Tom Thayer, with our Josh Liss, sizes up Sunday's matchup vs. the Arizona Cardinals.

Gardening Tips For Nov. 7, 2009
Tips on maintaining your garden, plants and flowers year-round.

President Obama's Weekly Address
President Obama honors the heroism of those at Fort Hood by paying tribute to those who were killed, those who were wounded and those who extended a helping hand.

Republican Response to Weekly Address
In the Weekly Republican Address, Governor Haley Barbour (R-MS) reflects on this week's elections in New Jersey and Virginia, and discusses why he thinks independents showed overwhelming support for the Republican Party.

Oprah Winfrey moving her show from Chicago?
Veteran Entertainment Journalist and LA Weekly Hollywood, Nikki Finke joins Kris and Sherman during the WBBM Noon Business Hour to discuss the possibility of Oprah Winfrey moving her show from Chicago to Los Angles.