JEFFERSON AND WASHINGTON COUNTY – Two crashes were reported just a few hours apart on eastbound I-64 in the Jefferson and Washington County area Friday.
According to Illinois State Police, just before 4:30 p.m. troopers responded to a three-vehicle fatal crash on eastbound I-64 near Woodlawn.
As traffic was slowing down and for unknown reasons, a semi driven by a North Carolina man struck another semi a Texas man was driving who then struck the rear of another vehicle driven by a 58-year-old Marion woman. The first semi was hauling 200 batteries.
The semi driver from North Carolina was fatally injured.
Eastbound I-64 traffic was diverted onto U.S. 51 to Illinois 15. Westbound I-64 traffic was closed at I-57.
The Mt. Vernon Fire Hazmat Team responded to assist.
Both eastbound and westbound sides were closed and reopened around 4:40 Saturday morning.
No names were released. There is nothing further to report at this time.
Then around 7:30 p.m., a three-vehicle injury crash happened on eastbound I-64 at milepost 59 near Nashville.
ISP says traffic was stopped due to the back-up of traffic from the earlier crash.
A vehicle driven by a Kentucky man struck another vehicle driven by a woman from Indiana. She then struck the rear of another vehicle from Alton.
The Kentucky man, along with the Indiana driver and her juvenile passenger, were flown to a regional hospital with serious injuries. The driver from Alton was taken to an area hospital with serious injuries.
All lanes of traffic reopened around 4:40 Saturday morning. There is nothing further to report at this time.
