Chicago Driver Launches Car Off Highway, Catches Car On Fire And Crashes Into Building

Screenshot: CBS News Chicago

You usually don’t expect to see a car fly over your head while you’re driving, but according to one witness, that’s exactly what happened in a suburb north of Chicago on Tuesday afternoon. At around noon, the driver of a 1997 Buick flew off the Edens Expressway and tore through a fence before catching on fire and crashing into a building, CBS News Chicago reports.

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Thankfully no one in the store was hurt, and the damage to Lewis Floor & Home (the building that was hit) was relatively minor, all things considered. The driver also managed to avoid crashing her flaming car into the Glencoe Animal Hospital, which is right next door. Steven Lewis, the owner of Lewis Floor & Home told CBS 2, “The good news is that nobody is hurt. The building is still structurally sound, and it’s just property damage. This could have been a whole lot worse. Never have I had an incident like this, so it’s a little shaky.”

Emergency crews responded and were able to quickly put out the fire. The driver did not appear to have any life-threatening injuries and was taken to the hospital to be evaluated. She got extremely lucky, though. Even before the paramedics arrived a man driving a black Mercedes-Benz stopped and pulled her out of the car. If he hadn’t, it’s possible that this incident could have ended very differently.

Illinois State Police are reportedly investigating what exactly caused the crash and, at least for now, haven’t announced any charges for the driver. However, they have said that she is originally from Wisconsin, did not have a license plate on her car and also did not have the car insured.

Car flies off Edens Expressway, crashes into building