While there is no official information being released at this time, initial reports from the Jefferson Fire Protection District indicate three of the southbound trucks had slowed for construction activity on the Dix-Irvington Road overpass and the fourth could not and crashed into the rear of the first slowed truck setting off a domino effect.įirst reports around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon indicated one of the truck drivers may have been trapped, but it was quickly learned all four drivers were out of their rigs and had escaped injury.
Illinois State Police said traffic in both directions of Interstate 39 between Normal and Minonk have reopened, close to 24 hours after a crash involving several dozen vehicles on snowy and ice roads turned into a 100-car pileup.Illinois State Police reopened I-57 at the Dix interchange overpass at 7:30 Tuesday night following seven hours of cleanup after a four semi-truck chain-reaction collision. The first crashes happened around 3:15 p.m. on southbound I-39 just south of El Paso, authorities said. The crash scene was several hundred yards long. In all, 28 vehicles sustained damage, with numerous others sliding off the road. State Police called in 12 tow trucks to help clear the scene.
That work was expected to last well into Friday. ISP issued a statement Friday indicating the southbound lanes reopened at about 1:30 p.m. and the northbound lanes opened at 11:56 a.m. “Together, with our local partners, we are diligently working to ensure motorists are safely escorted from the area to warming centers,” State Police said just before 7 p.m. Interstate 39 southbound will be closed for approximately 12 hours.” “The ISP continues to urge the public to use EXTREME caution and only travel if absolutely necessary. Louis, was southbound on I-39 when he heard a commotion on his CB radio. Some northbound truckers were shouting about a pileup starting. “If it wasn’t for my CB radio, I would’ve plowed right into them,” Hoffman told WGLT. “I watched all them guys behind me pile up. I thought they were going to hit me,” he said. He watched as a school bus took people to a nearby warming center. He opened up his rig to keep other stranded drivers warm.
#TRUCK CRASH I39 FREE#
Speaking to WGLT around 6:30 p.m., Hoffman said he hoped to break free of the pileup and make it to a Pilot truck stop and call it a night. Hoffman added: “For all those truck drivers out there, keep your CB radios on. If it wasn’t for my CB radio, it would have been a disaster.” That is a very important aspect of driving. The El Paso-Gridley school district loaned out that bus to help transport people away from the pileup site, chaperoned by a snowplow from El Paso Township. By around 6:30 p.m., all motorists had been moved to warming centers. The City of El Paso and the El Paso Police Department were working with the State Police and the Red Cross to care for those involved in the pileup. Shelters were being made at the El Paso Library and the City Municipal Building. The McLean County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) said many areas are dealing with whiteout conditions as another winter storm dumped sleet and snow across central Illinois on Thursday. WGLT A Connect Transit bus drives during a snowstorm on the Illinois State University campus on Thursday. “There are multiple accidents on our interstates. ISP has closed several sections of highway due to accidents and lanes being blocked. ISP said travel on I-74 between the Mansfield area and Champaign (mile markers 160 to 180) should be “for emergency purposes only.” PLEASE stay home!” states a message on the McLean County EMA Facebook page.ĮMA acting director Cathy Beck told WGLT several portions of Interstates 55 and 74 in McLean are at a standstill because of those accidents. “Numerous crashes and whiteout conditions are making travel extremely dangerous if not impossible,” said ISU Sgt. Matt McCormick.Īccording to the Normal Fire Department, I-74 was closed near LeRoy and I-55 has a major crash near Towanda.īy early Thursday afternoon, roads in McLean County were snow covered over a layer of ice. The ice and sleet that came down beforehand has created a slick surface underneath the snow." "We would recommend people stay home if at all possible," said Ryan Otto, Town of Normal Public works director.
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