Black Ice Causes Problems on Kennedy Expressway

Ohio, Ontario feeder ramps to Interstate 90/94 briefly closed early Friday morning

A number of crashes and spin-outs prompted officials to close the Ohio and Ontario feeder ramps to Interstate 90/94 for a couple of hours early Friday.

An Illinois State Police spokesperson said there were 10 crashes or spin-outs on the Kennedy Expressway between O'Hare International Airport and areas in the River North neighborhood. Five of them were on the Ohio Street ramp, the official said.

A number of motorists were involved in rear-end crashes, spin-outs and other collisions on Friday morning when area roadways were covered in black ice.

The sound and aftermath of one such crash was caught on video while a taxi driver, who'd just crashed into a wall, was speaking with NBC Chicago.

Sam Robinson said he wasn't traveling very fast when he changed lanes and lost control. He crashed into the median wall while trying to avoid other cars, he said.

"I saw nothing. I just saw like the powder of the snow on the ground. I didn't even know it was cold enough to freeze like that," he said.

In addition to the feeder ramps, the express lanes of the interstate were also briefly closed while salt trucks tended to the ice.

All roadways were back open by 5 a.m.

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