Overview
- The incident began with a stopped Volkswagen Atlas in the westbound lanes of I‑290 near Mannheim that was found Thursday with shattered glass and deployed airbags.
- Illinois State Police called in the Cook County Bomb and Arson Squad and federal partners after first responders arrived, and agents from the FBI, ATF and DEA joined the scene.
- Investigators erected a white tent over the SUV and searched the vehicle using explosive‑response procedures while the vehicle remained on the roadway for hours.
- The Cook County Medical Examiner confirmed one fatality but released no name or cause of death as the multiagency death investigation continues.
- Full closures at Mannheim and nearby ramps produced miles‑long backups and stranded motorists; authorities towed the SUV just before 6 p.m. and reopened lanes before 7 p.m., and they say more updates will follow.