Fatal Crash Sparks Burr Ridge Man's Interest In Road

BURR RIDGE, IL – Cook County is planning improvements to Wolf Road in Burr Ridge and Indian Head Park.

Burr Ridge resident Steve Smid has a special interest in the issue, and it's understandable.

On June 17, 2022, his wife, Susan Smid, was bicycling when a pickup truck crashed into her at Wolf Road and 79th Street, killing her. The driver was cited on a charge of improperly overtaking a bicyclist.

Among the witnesses were Steve Smid.

The roads in question are largely without sidewalks. One corner of the intersection includes a few feet.

The Cook County Department of Transportation is examining 2.3 miles of Wolf Road.

The goals of the study are to eliminate roadway deficiencies, bring the corridor up to current standards, improve traffic safety, and review pedestrian and bicycle accommodations.

The department held a public meeting last month on Wolf Road. Smid attended.

In an interview, Steve Smid said the study won't be done until next year. Improvements, he said, won't happen for years.

"They're not going to rush to do this. I don't get why you can't do something temporarily, like putting up signs to tell drivers to watch out for pedestrians and bicyclists," Smid said.

The intersection of Wolf and Joliet roads, Smid said, has similar problems.

Smid said he did not know if added signage would have made a difference in his wife's case.

"You never know," he said. "Going forward, I think it can help."