Westchester, Illinois — A mysterious death investigation brought traffic to a standstill Thursday after authorities discovered a deceased person inside an SUV surrounded by shell casings on the Eisenhower Expressway, prompting a massive response from local, state and federal agencies.
The incident shut down portions of one of the Chicago area’s busiest highways for nearly nine hours before all lanes finally reopened Thursday evening.
Dead Person Found Inside SUV on Expressway
Authorities first began investigating around 10 a.m. after an SUV was found stopped in the outbound lanes of Interstate 290 near the Westchester Boulevard overpass.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office later confirmed that one person was found dead inside the vehicle.
Investigators quickly secured the area after discovering numerous shell casings scattered around the SUV.
Reports also emerged suggesting there may have been some type of explosion associated with the incident, though officials have not confirmed those details.
At this time, authorities have not publicly identified the deceased individual.
Massive Investigation Shuts Down Interstate
The discovery triggered widespread road closures across the area.
Police closed all eastbound lanes of the Eisenhower Expressway east of Mannheim Road, along with several connecting ramps and nearby access points.
Traffic quickly backed up as thousands of motorists became stranded during the lengthy investigation.
According to transportation data, more than 130,000 vehicles travel through the Eisenhower near Mannheim Road on an average day, making the closure particularly disruptive.
The SUV remained at the center of the investigation for much of the day before it was eventually removed shortly before 6 p.m.
All lanes reopened by approximately 6:55 p.m.
Bomb Squad and Federal Agencies Respond
Authorities treated the scene with extreme caution.
Initially, officers maintained a significant distance from the SUV while a police drone hovered overhead gathering information.
A bomb squad later arrived and carefully examined the vehicle before investigators moved closer. Eventually, officers secured the scene and placed a tarp over the driver’s side of the SUV.
Later in the investigation, a large white tent was erected around the vehicle while another car was positioned in front to shield the area from public view.
Dozens of evidence markers were also placed around shell casings scattered across multiple lanes and the highway shoulder.
Drivers Left Stranded for Hours
The extensive closure left many drivers trapped in traffic for several hours. Among them was motorist Untrail Boyd, who initially believed he was approaching a typical traffic accident.
“I thought that it was an accident, so I got out the truck, walked down to the accident — like if it’s an accident, I can tow the car away and open traffic back up,” Boyd said. “I see the officers have a shield right there — now this is more than an accident.”
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As delays stretched on, Boyd tried to make the best of the situation.
“I didn’t have no choice but to get a pizza. We didn’t eat nothing all day, and we were sitting in traffic for, like I say, you know, like two and a half hours,” Boyd said. “So my fiancée went across the beam, climbed over all the grass, walked to Home Run Inn.”
Mystery Remains Unsolved
Authorities have released very few details regarding what occurred inside or around the SUV. Officials have only described the situation as an “active incident.”
The FBI and ATF are leading the investigation, while the DEA is providing support.
As of Thursday evening, investigators had not announced a cause of death, possible motive or whether any suspects were being sought.
The unusual case remains under active investigation as authorities work to determine exactly what happened on one of Illinois’ busiest roadways.
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