Worker Killed by Beam During Construction on Jane Addams

The steel beam, used to support the bridge, was being moved by two cranes across the roadway

A worker was killed and three others were injured when a 45-ton beam fell during construction on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway in suburban Des Plaines early Tuesday morning.

Workers were on the I-90 construction site at Touhy Avenue around 3 a.m. when the massive beam came crashing down during construction, injuring four people below.

One worker was taken to Lutheran General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. He was identified by authorities as Vicente Santoyo, 47, of Berwyn.

The steel beam, used to support the bridge, was being moved by two cranes across the roadway at the time when the weight load shifted, causing it to fall, according to Des Plaines police Chief Bull Kushner.

The toppled beam weighs 45 tons of steel and is 187 feet long, Kushner said. Crews were on the job overnight working to remove and replace the beams.

One person was transported to Lutheran General Hospital in critical condition and was soon pronounced dead, police said. Three others were being treated for minor injuries at area hospitals and were reported to be in good condition.

It is still unknown what exactly happened to cause the huge bridge support to collapse.

Touhy between Wolf and Lee Street was closed to traffic after the accident, causing miles of backup for drivers ahead of the morning commute. Authorities gave a "very conservative estimate" of 12 hours for Touhy to reopen.

Two lanes remained closed Tuesday morning on I-90 as the investigation continued. Midday commuters were expected to see a slow I-90 from Schaumburg to O'Hare Airport.

East-west alternatives include Oakton Road, Golf Road and Algonquin Road, which runs diagonally along the tollway.

 
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Kye Martin is monitoring some major delays for the morning commute. EB I-90 at Touhy Avenue is at a standstill, with nearly an hour of backup in the aftermath of a deadly construction accident. http://nbcchi.com/caNtskS

Posted by NBC Chicago on Tuesday, April 5, 2016
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