The Joliet Police Department closed a section of Route 6 on Friday morning as officers investigated a fiery overnight wreck that killed the 23-year-old driver and ejected his 34-year-old passenger.
The passenger suffered life-threatening injuries and was taken to AMITA Health Saint Joseph Medical Center, according to Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English.
At 3:25 a.m., Joliet Fire Department paramedics and Joliet squad cars rushed to the scene of the crash at Route 6 and Terminal Court. A car was flipped on its side, wrapped around a traffic signal pole,and engulfed in flames, according to Joliet Fire Chief Greg Blaskey. The area of Route 6 and Terminal Court is near the now-shuttered Caterpillar manufacturing plant.
"A preliminary investigation indicates that a sedan driven by a 23-year-old male driver was located overturned and engulfed in flames after it appeared the vehicle had struck a traffic signal on the southeast corner of the intersection," Joliet police announced.