9-Vehicle Pileup Shuts Down I-55

JOLIET, IL — A wreck involving eight vehicles and a tractor-trailer on Interstate 55 at Renwick Road shut down all southbound lanes and snarled rush hour traffic.

Cars were stuck on the Interstate and the southbound lanes were closed for more than an hour following the 4:30 p.m. crash. Police estimated the road would remain closed until 8:30 p.m.

Several patients were hospitalized but police did not have a definite number in the wreck’s immediate aftermath. One person was airlifted to an area hospital with serious injuries, Illinois State Police said.

The state police were diverting southbound traffic to Route 126 and guiding stranded motorists off I-55.

Updated at 7:39 p.m. Feb. 17

image via Patch archive