18-Year-Old Killed In Crash; 'Gentle Giant' Planned To Attend Columbia College: Reports

CHICAGO — An 18-year-old recent high school graduate was one of two people who died in a weekend crash after he was hit while changing a tire on the Eisenhower Expressway, according to police and media reports.

Erik Christopher Cox had just graduated from Rolling Meadows High School with plans to attend Columbia College for graphic design in the fall, NBC Chicago reported. His guardian, Fernando Chavarria, told NBC Chicago that Cox was “a gentle giant” and “very intelligent.”

The incident occurred shortly after 3 a.m. Sunday on westbound Interstate 290 near Damen Avenue, according to police, who said the collision involved two vehicles and a pedestrian. Two people were killed and three were taken to a hospital with injuries, police said, adding the investigation was ongoing.