CHANNAHON TOWNSHIP – Two 21-year-olds were killed early Thursday when their car struck the back of a semitrailer on Interstate 55 in Channahon Township.
Illinois State Police Master Sgt. Fred Rivera said the crash occurred at 1:01 a.m. in the northbound lanes near milepost 247 – between Route 6 and Bluff Road.
"For unknown reasons, a 2012 Buick Regal careened off the trailer of the truck in front of it. It slid sideways and rolled into the center median, where both occupants were ejected from the vehicle," Rivera said.
Tyler Fox, of Channahon, and Darcy Chobar, of Shorewood, were pronounced dead at the scene by a Will County deputy coroner about an hour after the crash, according to reports.
The truck driver, Carlos Ward, 56, of Robbins, was not injured. Rivera said the crash is under investigation, but Ward does not appear to have been at fault and was not cited.
"There are no initial indications drugs or alcohol were factors in the crash," Rivera said. State police reports say Fox and Chobar were not wearing seat belts.
Fox's Facebook page indicated he attended Illinois State University.
"He worked here until he left for college [about] three years ago and would return on [school] breaks," an employee at Babe's Hot Dogs in Joliet said Thursday. "He was very helpful. The owner loved him."
Chobar's Facebook page indicated she attended Minooka Community High School and DePaul University and worked at Stout Barrel House and Galley, a Chicago restaurant.
This story has been changed concerning the nature of Tyler Fox's and Darcy Chobar's relationship.