Illinois 

A cab driver was in fair condition Monday in Lutheran General Hospital, recovering from injuries sustained when his taxi slammed into a construction crane parked on the shoulder of a Tri-State Tollway ramp near Northbrook.

Andrey Iliev, 24, of Harwood Heights, was transported to the hospital by Flight for Life helicopter Sunday morning. There were no passengers in his cab, according to emergency personnel.

The wreck occurred around 7:14 a.m. Sunday on the exit ramp leading from the northbound Tri-State to Lake-Cook Road.

The cab had exited the tollway on the northbound ramp. An Illinois State Police report indicated the driver had swerved from the right side of the ramp to the left side and struck the parked crane.

The 303 Taxi driver’s legs were pinned under the crushed dashboard, Northbrook Fire Department District Chief Dan Quinn said.

“Paramedics (crawled in) next to the patient, starting an IV and treating him, while extrication crews were cutting the roof and doors off, and then they rolled the dash away from the patient’s legs,” Quinn said.

He added that it took 22 minutes to pry the car parts away from the driver, and the helicopter arrived 24 minutes after being called, “so it was a seamless transfer from (the wreck) to the helicopter.”

Iliev’s injuries included a compound fracture of his left thigh bone, Northbrook Fire Department Deputy Chief Ron Schinleber said.

“He was conscious and alert the whole time … and in a considerable amount of pain,” Schinleber said.

No citations were written at the scene, a state police spokesman said.

Deerfield/Bannockburn, Lincolnshire/Riverwoods and Glenview fire departments assisted with the incident.

Category: Accident Report

Tags: Crane Photos, Driving Accident