New details reveal cause of explosion that shut down I-290 for hours – NBC Chicago

Published
June 09, 2026
Outcome
Injured
Location
Westchester, Illinois
Eisenhower Expressway (I-290) near Mannheim Road
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Incident type
Crash

Summary

Car Crash Westchester Illinois in Westchester, Illinois: A commercial-grade firework ignited inside the driver compartment of an SUV, killing 47‐year‐old Jorge Vaca and causing an explosion on the Eisenhower Expressway near Mannheim Road. The blast blew out the vehicle’s windows and forced the highway to close for more than eight hours while bomb squads investigated. No other injuries were reported.

Publicly reported parties

Name Role Status
Jorge Vaca Driver Fatal

Original reporting

New details reveal cause of explosion that shut down I-290 for hours – NBC Chicago

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