Car Ripped in Half After Slamming Into Tree in Ashburn, Chicago

Two men critically injured after vehicle leaves roadway and crashes into tree, splitting car in two.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 2:35pm

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Two men were rushed to area hospitals in critical condition after the driver of a sedan lost control of the vehicle and slammed into a tree in the Ashburn neighborhood of Chicago, ripping the car in half from the force of the impact.

Why it matters

This high-speed single-vehicle crash in a residential area raises concerns about traffic safety and the need for improved road design and driver education to prevent such devastating accidents.

The details

According to Chicago police, the driver of the sedan was traveling eastbound on Columbus Avenue near Central Park Avenue on Saturday night when he left the roadway and crashed directly into a tree. The force of the impact completely tore the front of the vehicle off, leaving the two occupants trapped in the wreckage.

  • The crash occurred on Saturday night.

The players

Chicago Police

The local law enforcement agency investigating the single-vehicle crash.

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What’s next

The Chicago Police Department's Major Accidents Unit is continuing to investigate the cause of the crash, and no further details have been released at this time.

The takeaway

This devastating accident highlights the need for greater traffic safety measures, such as improved road design, speed enforcement, and driver education, to prevent such tragic outcomes in the future.