UMVA has learned that a dramatic explosion ripped through a vehicle on the Eisenhower Expressway, prompting a massive bomb‑squad response in Cook County.
Witnesses described a sudden flash followed by a deafening blast that ripped the car’s sunroof and windows cleanly away, sending airbags careening onto the pavement.
Within minutes, Illinois State Police swarmed the scene, calling in an “explosion” alert and summoning a specialized bomb‑suit team to secure the wreck.
Drone footage captured the chaos: uniformed officers methodically combing the debris, a bomb technician in full protective gear kneeling beside the twisted metal, while traffic snarled for miles.
Drivers abandoned their cars in panic, spilling onto the shoulder as the highway became a gridlocked nightmare.
By 11:30 a.m., both eastbound and westbound lanes of I‑290 were shut down, and nearby Mannheim Road and a stretch of I‑88 were also closed, forcing commuters onto detours.
Authorities urged motorists to avoid the area, warning that the closures could linger for an extended period.
Details remain scarce, but the swift, coordinated response suggests officials are treating the incident with the utmost seriousness.
