Motorist dies in tollway crash

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Updated: June 13, 2011 4:47AM

A Riverside man died Tuesday on the tollway near Libertyville after his van hit an emergency vehicle blocking a lane of traffic while at another accident.

Robert Lancaster, 42, was driving a white Dodge van south in the left lane north of Route 60 when he crashed into the back of an Illinois Tollway HELP (Highway Emergency Lane Patrol) vehicle that had responded to a minor accident involving a semi-tractor trailer.

Lancaster, the only person in his van, was pronounced dead at the scene, Lake County Coroner Artis Yancey said Wednesday.

The emergency vehicle was pushed into the tractor-trailer, but only caused minor damage and no injuries, a District 15 State Police spokesman said.

A driver and two passengers in the HELP vehicle were treated and released for minor injuries at Advocate Condell Medical Center, Libertyville. They were all males in their 40s, the spokesman said.

The spokesman said alcohol or drugs did not appear to be a factor in the 12:15 p.m. crash. No tickets have been issued and the crash remains under investigation.