OAK LAWN, IL — The family of a man killed Sunday morning in a single vehicle crash in Oak Lawn, told Patch that he was an off-duty Chicago police officer.
The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office identified the driver as Edwin Espinoza, 35, of the 5300 block of South Merrimac Avenue.
Chicago police confirmed the Espinoza was an off-duty probationary officer who joined the department a year ago.
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Around 8 a.m., Oak Lawn police responded to a crash at 95th Street and Harlem Avenue. The crash happened near the Harlem Avenue entrance ramp when the vehicle Espinoza was driving crashed into a tree, police said.
Espinoza was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center where he later died of his injuries, according to the Cook County Medical Examiner.
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The ramp from westbound 95th Street to northbound Harlem Avenue was closed from about 8:15 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., police said on social media. The crash remained under investigation as of Sunday evening, according to police.
The family of Espinoza has started a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral costs and other expenses.
“We are heartbroken to share that we have lost a son, brother, uncle, godfather, and friend,” the family said in a statement. “He was deeply loved by his parents, brothers and sister, niece and nephews, numerous cousins, and friends. We are deeply saddened to have lost him so soon.”
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