Woman Killed In Chain Reaction Crash On I-55

WILMINGTON, Ill. (STMW) -- A 68-year-old woman was killed in a six-vehicle, chain-reaction crash on Interstate 55 Wednesday night near southwest suburban Wilmington.

The crash happened about 4:30 p.m. on northbound I-55, about a half-mile north of North River Road, in a construction area where traffic had slowed, according to Illinois State Police.

A semi truck ran into the vehicle ahead of it, causing a chain-reaction collision that ultimately involved a total of three semi trucks and three cars, police said.

The woman driving the first car that was struck by a semi was pronounced dead at the scene, State Police said. She was identified as Harriette E. Herrera, of northwest suburban Roselle, according to the Will Coounty Coroner's office. An unspecified number of other people were hurt in the crash and taken to area hospitals, but their conditions were not yet known.

The northbound lanes of I-55 were closed for almost five hours as state police investigated.

An autopsy was scheduled for Thursday for herrera, the coroner's office said.

(Source: Sun-Times Media Wire © Chicago Sun-Times 2013. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)