CHICAGO, IL — Three people were injured early Saturday after a car went off the road and into Lake Michigan near North DuSable Lake Shore Drive, Chicago police said. Officers said the black two-door vehicle lost control around 12:50 a.m. and entered the water near the 800 block of the roadway.
Police said everyone inside was able to swim to land after the crash. A 26-year-old man suffered a dislocated shoulder and was taken to a hospital in fair condition. Two 19-year-old men also were transported to the hospital in fair condition with minor injuries.
Police said the vehicle lost control before entering the lake
Chicago police have not released details on what caused the driver to lose control. Investigators also have not said whether speed, road conditions or any other factor may have played a role in the crash.
The vehicle ended up submerged in the water, according to video obtained by NBC Chicago. Police were seen working at the scene as crews dealt with the car in the lake.
For now, the cause remains unclear, and officials have not announced any additional injuries beyond the three people who were hurt. The crash happened before sunrise, when traffic was light and the stretch near the lakefront was quiet.
All three occupants made it back to shore after the crash
The most serious injury reported was the dislocated shoulder suffered by the 26-year-old man. Chicago police said he was in fair condition when he was taken to an area hospital.
The two 19-year-old men were also brought to the hospital in fair condition after reporting minor injuries. Police did not say which of the three was driving, and they have not identified any of the occupants by name.
The fact that all three were able to swim out of the lake likely limited the outcome of the crash, but the scene still required police response and hospital treatment for each person involved.
Lakefront crashes raise added danger on DuSable Lake Shore Drive
DuSable Lake Shore Drive runs along one of Chicago’s most heavily traveled lakefront corridors, where a mistake can quickly become a water rescue. Early-morning crashes in that area can be especially hazardous because the roadway sits close to the shoreline and traffic patterns change quickly near curves and access points.
In this case, the vehicle came to rest submerged in Lake Michigan, creating a scene that drew video coverage from NBC Chicago. Police have not said whether any tow or recovery work had been completed by the time the scene was captured.
Officials have also not said whether any other vehicles were involved. As of Saturday, the investigation into how the car entered the lake was still underway.
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