Snowplow Crash in S. Elgin Delays Chicago Flights

Flights from Chicago's two major airports were disrupted Saturday afternoon after an IDOT snowplow hit a utility pole, cutting off power to a radar facility in Elgin.

Six people were hospitalized with minor injuries after a two- vehicle accident about 3:20 p.m. at La Fox and Plum streets in South Elgin, officials from the South Elgin Fire Protection District said.

Even though ComEd spokesman John Dewey said the Federal Aviation Administration's Terminal Radar Approach and Control facility, 1100 Bowes Road in Elgin, was without power for only a few seconds, FAA officials grounded flights at O'Hare International and Midway airports for almost 30 minutes as a precaution. Air travel resumed at 4:01 p.m. and was minimally disrupted.

"There were no measurable delays," said Chicago Department of Aviation spokeswoman Wendy Abrams.

The accident disrupted a distribution line in South Elgin affecting the grid powering the nearby Elgin facility, Dewey said. The backup power immediately kicked in, FAA officials added.

Flight controllers at the facility, known as TRACON, direct flights within a 40-mile radius of Chicago, sending information - including an aircraft's speed, altitude and flight number - to airport control towers.

Fire officials said a northbound Illinois Department of Transportation vehicle snowplow hit a Ford Expedition and struck the pole. The five people in the SUV and the snowplow driver were taken to Provena St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin with minor injuries, fire officials added. The snowplow was not engaged at the time of accident, officials also said.

Crews continued to work until about 7:40 p.m., blocking the roadways to clean the site, fire officials added.

The light weekend flight schedule also helped keep airport delays to a minimum, Abrams added.

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