A car carrier spun onto its side in icy conditions on Interstate 57. (Credit: CBS)
Updated 1/6/11 – 1:12 p.m. CHICAGO (CBS) – At least 18 crashes were reported along I-57 Thursday afternoon as a result of icy conditions on the roadway.
The crashes started at about 10:15 a.m. on I-57 near I-80, according to Illinois State Police.
A total of 18 crashes happened near the I-57/I-80 junction near Homewood because of slippery snow, Illinois State Police District Chicago Master Sgt. Mike Witt said.
One of those crashes was a car carrier truck that rolled over on its side after leaving the roadway near Peotone.
Westbound I-80 was at a standstill after a semi truck jackknifed near Torrence Avenue. No one was hurt in the crash but the left lane was still closed as of 12:45 p.m. as crews work to clean up the truck’s lost load, Witt said.
Two people were also hurt on northbound I-294 after a red Ford pickup hit a tree near Glenwood Dyer Road, a trooper said. They were taken to Saint Margaret Mercy Healthcare Center in Hammond, Ind.
Fewer than 10 injuries were reported and none were serious, Witt said.
On I-57, a vehicle caught fire near Sibley and other vehicles in crashes nearby were undrivable in both the north- and southbound lanes, a trooper said.
Further south, I-57 was reported closed near Peotone because of multiple crashes in both directions.
