Traffic on Route 59 between West Chicago and Warrenville was backed up for hours Feb. 21, after a semitruck and a Chevrolet Blazer collided, sending both vehicles into a ditch and causing the trailer to block several lanes.

At about 7 a.m. West Chicago police and the West Chicago Fire Protection District responded to the area of Route 59 and Garys Mill Road, just south of Roosevelt Road for the crash.

Both vehicles went off the road, with the Blazer landing on its side, and the semi resting in a ditch, police said. The semi-truck trailer blocked several lanes of northbound Route 59, causing its closure for several hours.

The Blazer, driven by Hector L. Alduen, of the 500 block of Carriage Drive, West Chicago, was southbound Route 59 approaching Garys Mill Road, police said. Witnesses said Alduen attempted to turn left from the left turn lane and was struck by the semi, driven by Thomas M. Harmon of Batavia.

Harmon was not injured, but police said Alduen sustained serious internal injuries and was taken to Central DuPage Hospital. He was later transferred to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, where he died on Feb. 26, a cousin of Alduen said.

No citations were issued, police said.