Deerfield police, Illinois State Police, and Northbrook firefighter/paramedics responded about 3:10 a.m. to a report that a man fell out of a moving bus on northbound I-294 near the Lake Cook Road overpass. Deerfield police were first on the scene, where a Libertyville man was killed after falling out of a moving party bus.
Initially there was some confusion whether the incident was on The Spur or I-294, but the incident was discovered in the northbound lanes of I-294 just south of the Lake Cook Road overpass. The man was found dead at the scene.
Most fire crews left the scene by 3:47 a.m., but a fire engine crew remained on the scene with lighting for a police investigation as the three right lanes of northbound I-294 were closed following the crash. The three right lanes of northbound I-294 reopened several hours later.
Illinois State police described the fatality as a “freak accident” that occurred when a 27-year-old Libertyville man was on a party bus as it headed northbound on I-294 near Lake Cook Road in Northbrook at about 3 a.m.
According to Illinois State Police, the man was trying to turn up the radio volume in the bus when he fell down the stairs and through the bus doors, dropping onto the expressway. An unknown car struck him in the northbound lanes of I-294, according to Illinois State Police.
The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The Cook County Medical Examiner’s office in Chicago were not immediately confirming the fatality. Release of details, including the victim’s identity, were not available, pending notification of the victim’s family.
No foul play is suspected, according to Illinois State Police. However, police are searching for the driver of the car that struck the man for questioning. It is unknown if the motorist even knew a person was struck.
Police were unsure if any criminal charges would be filed in connection with the incident, and the investigation remains ongoing, according to Illinois State Police.
Stay informed with news from PublicSafetyReporter.com’s Emergencies Behind the Scenes Facebook page — Facebook.com/CardinalEmergencies. Includes links to favorite public safety and emergency rescuers and product manufacturers and safety companies that have Facebook pages. Submit your pictures or just stay up-to-date on with fire, rescue, EMS and police photo galleries. Please add your public safety photo to the wall album, or send a message to the page.