A woman’s harrowing experience on I-55 during Monday evening’s storms has left her with a newfound appreciation for life. Jennifer Sternal, a resident of Will County, was driving home around 9 p.m. when she encountered a downed power line on the highway, surrounded by live wires. What followed was a six-hour ordeal that tested her strength and resilience.
Sternal, in an interview with NBC Chicago, recounted the terrifying moments she spent trapped in her vehicle. As she drove through the storm, the heavy rain and wind made it nearly impossible to see ahead. Suddenly, she came across a downed power line that was still live. In a split second decision, she switched lanes to move behind a semi-truck, only to realize that she had run over power lines that were already on the ground.
To make matters worse, the semi-truck ahead of her began to jackknife, leaving her completely surrounded by live wires in her SUV. “I was very concerned that somebody was going to get electrocuted by those because it was on the ground, all next to my car, behind it, in front of it,” Sternal said. “They could very easily have touched it.”
Despite the danger, Sternal managed to stop her vehicle just in time before colliding with the semi-truck. However, she was now stuck in the middle of a storm with no way out. First responders arrived within minutes, but due to the severity of the situation, it wasn’t until 3 a.m. Tuesday that Sternal was finally rescued from her vehicle. A video captured by NBC Chicago’s Sky 5 shows her white SUV near a jackknifed ALDI truck. The driver of the truck made sure that the stranded drivers didn’t go hungry by throwing bread to them.
Sternal expressed her gratitude for the truck driver’s act of kindness, saying, “They started throwing bread to the poor guys on the other side of the street so they would have something while they were waiting.” It’s moments like these that restore our faith in humanity and remind us of the power of compassion and empathy.
Despite the terrifying experience, Sternal considers herself lucky to have survived the storm. “Lucky enough I went out and bought a lotto ticket. I feel very, very blessed and lucky that nothing happened to me or even anyone else out there,” she said. Her positive attitude and gratitude in the face of adversity is truly inspiring.
Sternal was eventually picked up and returned home safely, while her vehicle remained on I-55, which is still closed in Channahon in both directions. The storm may have caused chaos and destruction, but it also brought out the best in people. The truck driver’s act of kindness, along with the swift response of the first responders, is a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always hope and goodness.
As for Sternal, she is grateful to be alive and is cherishing every moment. Her experience serves as a reminder to all of us to never take life for granted and to always be prepared for the unexpected. It’s a reminder to appreciate the little things and to never lose sight of what truly matters.
In the midst of a storm, Jennifer Sternal found the strength to keep going and the courage to face her fears. Her story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and a reminder that we are capable of overcoming even the toughest of challenges. Let us all take inspiration from her and face any storm that comes our way with unwavering determination and positivity.
