A truck driver hauling a load of empty glass bottles was hospitalized early Thursday after crashing into an overpass on Interstate 80 in southwest suburban Joliet, officials said.
The driver was westbound on I-80 when he left the roadway and hit the Center Street overpass shortly after midnight, an Illinois State Police District 5 trooper said.
The male driver, whose age was not immediately available, was taken to Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet in serious condition, state police said.
The driver was cited for failure to reduce speed and improper lane usage, state police said. Alcohol was not a factor in the crash.
The Illinois Department of Transportation sent inspectors to examine the bridge for damage, and a more thorough assessment will take place later Thursday, state police said.
Crews remained at the scene of the crash about 4 a.m. to remove the truck’s cargo so that it could be towed away. State police said they hoped to have all lanes reopened to traffic by 8 a.m.
