3 dead in wrong-way crash on Stevenson Expy., including Oak Lawn father who was ‘backbone’ of family

Three people were killed in a wrong-way crash on the Stevenson Expressway early Friday, including a father from Oak Lawn.

A Hyundai Sonata going the wrong way entered Interstate 55 around 12:35 a.m. at Cicero Avenue and collided head-on with a Toyota Rav4, causing the car to skid into a concrete median, Illinois State Police said.

The wrong-way driver, 26-year-old Rella Ellisenorey and her passenger, a 24-year-old Deja Lonise Noel, were killed, according to state police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office.

The man driving the Toyota was also killed. He was identified as 54-year-old Khalid Jaber, of Oak Lawn.

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Jaber had five children and was the “backbone” of his family, the family said in a statement.

“Khalid was unparalleled in his kindness and generosity to others. He went out of his way to help whomever he could. Always smiling happy. This is a devastating and earth-shattering loss to us all,” the statement read.

The southbound lanes of the Stevenson were closed between Cicero and Central avenues until around 5:35 a.m.