Construction worker Francisco Padilla-Gutierrez killed in crash on Kennedy Expressway at Kinzie Street: Illinois State Police

CHICAGO (WLS) — A construction worker was killed in a crash on the Kennedy Expressway Monday evening, Illinois State Police said.

The crash happened on the outbound lanes of the Kennedy Expressway at Kinzie Street shortly after 9 p.m.

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State police closed several lanes Monday evening as they investigated the crash that killed 54-year-old Francisco Padilla-Gutierrez, who worked there.

Police said Padilla-Gutierrez was in an elevator painting the walls in the tunnel when a tractor trailer hit the elevator and continued driving.

Two other vehicles then collided, but no one was injured. Padilla-Gutierrez was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died.

“Says goodbye to family, goes to work. ‘I’ll be back tomorrow morning at 5, 6 o’clock.’ That was not the case,” said Jorge Padilla, the victim’s cousin.

His family in Calumet City is mourning Tuesday. Padilla-Gutierrez and his brother came to this country from Mexico as teenagers. She and other family members worked as painters in the Chicago area for many years.

“He and his wife, Norma, were married for more than 30 years, had three daughters and a two-year-old grandson,” Jorge said. “He was a great guy. He was a ‘yes’ man, a great uncle, a great father.”

Last month the family was on vacation at Disney World. They never thought this would be their last holiday together. Relatives are now hoping the truck driver who hit him will come forward, and they have a warning for drivers at road construction sites.

“If you see a construction site, slow down. There are people who go to work there who love their families, and they love them back,” Jorge said.

State police have not said whether they have photos or video of the truck that struck Padilla-Gutierrez. They said the crash remains under investigation.