Update 9:00 a.m. 4/12/2023

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Illinois State Police have released more details on the crash that shut down Interstate 57 on Tuesday.

Police said that a dump truck entered the left lane from the inside shoulder after working on the median cables and was struck by a semi-truck. The impact caused the semi to catch fire.

The driver of the dump truck, Manuel A. Chavarria, a 29-year-old man from Waukegan, Ill., was transported by helicopter to an area hospital with injuries. The passenger of the dump truck, Zamudio Escamilla, a 51-year-old man from Elgin, Ill., was transported by ambulance to an area hospital with injuries. 

The driver of the semi-truck was identified as Robert Silance, a 53-year-old man from Brookwood, Ala. He was also taken by ambulance to the hospital with injuries.

Police said the crash caused I-57 northbound to be detoured at Pesotum for approximately 1.5 hours. Southbound I-57 was closed for approximately six hours for cleanup.

No further information is available at this time.

Update 7 p.m.

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Northbound Interstate 57 is open again for travel, State Police officials have announced.

Officials also said they expect southbound I-57 to remain shut down between Pesotum and Tolono for several more hours . Drivers are advised to find an alternate route of travel.

Original article

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Interstate 57 is currently shut down in both directions in Champaign County due to a crash and vehicle fire.

The crash happened near the Illinois Prairie Rest Stop a few miles north of Pesotum, just before 5:30 p.m. State Police officials said it involved two semi-trucks, one of which caught fire.

Although the crash happened in the southbound lanes, both directions of travel are shut down. Southbound traffic is being redirected off the highway at Pesotum and northbound traffic is being redirected off at Tolono. U.S. Route 45 is the designated road for bypassing the closure.

Drivers are advised to avoid the area until further notice. Those who do travel into the area should expect long delays and backups in both directions of the highway.

The crash scene is active and this story is developing.