CHICAGO (WLS) — A construction worker was killed in a hit-and-run on the Kennedy Expressway Monday night, Illinois State Police said.

The accident happened shortly after 9pm on the exit lanes of the Kennedy Expressway at Kinzie Street.

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State police closed several lanes of traffic Monday night as they investigated the crash that killed 54-year-old Francisco Padilla-Gutierrez, who was working there.

Police said Padilla-Gutierrez was in an elevator painting tunnel walls when a trailer hit the elevator and kept going.

Two other vehicles then crashed, but no one was injured. Padilla-Gutierrez was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died.

“He says goodbye to his family, goes to work. “I’ll be back at 5, 6 in the morning.” That was not the case,” said Jorge Padilla, the victim’s nephew.

His family in Calumet City is in mourning Tuesday. Padilla-Gutierrez and his brother came to this country from Mexico as teenagers. They and other families worked as painters in the Chicago area for many years.

“He and his wife, Norma, have been married for more than three decades, have three daughters and a 2-year-old grandson,” said Jorge. “He was a great guy. He was a yes man, great uncle, great father.”

Last month, the family vacationed at Disney World. They never imagined it would be their last vacation together. Family members are now hoping the truck driver who hit him will come forward and have a warning for drivers on road works.

“See a construction site, slow down. There are people who go there to work, who love their families and love them back,” said Jorge.

State police have not said if they have photos or video of the truck that hit Padilla-Gutierrez. They said the crash remains under investigation.