12 injured in Eisenhower crash

Twelve people were injured in a crash Saturday on the Eisenhower Expressway on the Near West Side.

A 34-year-old man was driving a Mercury Grand Marquis about 3:45 p.m. when he rear-ended a Kia Optima in the inbound lanes near Paulina Street, Illinois State Police said. The Kia then hit the Chevrolet Silverado ahead of it.

Twelve people, including several children, were injured, according to Chicago fire officials. The driver of the Mercury was taken to Stroger Hospital in serious-to-critical condition.

Two boys, 1 and 11 years old, a girl, 8, and two women, 72 and 36 years old, were taken to Rush Hospital in good-to-fair condition, fire officials said.

Two more children, a 4-year-old girl and 13-year-old boy, were taken to Stroger Hospital in fair-to-serious condition, fire officials said. Two 14-year-old girls were also taken to Stroger Hospital in good-to-serious condition.

A 22-year-old woman was taken to the University of Illinois Hospital in fair-to-serious condition, and a 34-year-old woman refused medical attention, fire officials said.

The Mercury’s driver was cited for following too closely, state police said.