Crime & Safety

Distracted Driver May Have Caused Fatal I-80 Crash

Police say a family lost a father and grandfather because a driver may have been texting or looking at a GPS.

A 50-year-old Chicago man โ€” a father and grandfather โ€” died Friday afternoon on Interstate 80 after his car was rear-ended by an SUV.

State Police told the family the driver of the SUV may have been texting or looking at a GPS when the crash occurred, setting off a four-car chain-reaction collision that closed eastbound I-80 for several hours.

"I'm so upset, so angry that someone could be an adult and be so careless," Lanisha Blockmon, daughter of Walter Blockmon, told NBC Chicago on Saturday. "They took away somebody and we won't be able to see him anymore cause of a simple text."

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Blockmon was pronounced dead at Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office.

"I will miss my dad calling me every day," Lanisha Blockmon said. "I'll miss him being with his grandchildren. He won't be able to see them grow up, go to prom or college. He'll miss all of that."

Find out what's happening in Tinley Parkwith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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