A three vehicle crash in the northwest suburbs forced a partial shutdown of I-94 Thursday afternoon.
Just before 1 p.m., three vehicles including a semi-trailer truck crashed in the eastbound lanes of I-94 at milepost 23.4 near Half Day Road, according to Illinois State Police.
The driver of a Buick SUV lost control and crossed in front of the semi, causing the semi-truck driver to strike the driver's side of the SUV, according to ISP. Both the SUV and semi then struck a concrete median wall, at which time the semi rolled over onto the passenger side and caught fire.
The driver of the SUV told family members that his back tire blew out, causing him to lose control.
A third vehicle, a BMW X5, was also struck by the semi-trailer at some point during the crash, according to investigators.
Video of the scene shows the SUV and the semi-trailer on fire and debris spilled along the roadway.
Tom Hoover witnessed the crash and stopped to help. He pulled the man out of the SUV.
"There was one individual in the SUV and we helped him get out of the vehicle, he was unconscious," Hoover said.
Chenier Perkins, 43, of Aurora, suffered a concussion, but left Advocate Condell Medical Center with family Thursday evening.
"He only thing he remembered, he said a rear tire blew. And he lost control of the car and it just went off the road," said Tramaine Perkins, the victim's brother.
Family members say the man who helped Chenier is a hero.
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"We're extremely thankful for that person who saved Chenier. It's a blessing and we thank god for that person," said Tinesha Perkins, the victim's sister-in-law.
The crash and cleanup caused eastbound traffic on I-94 to back up for miles. It took five and a half hours for all lanes to reopen.
The 58-year old driver of the tractor trailer and a 57-year-old female passenger were also transported to Condell with non life-threatening injuries.
