ISP Crash Report from eight car pile-up near the I 57-64 split in Jefferson County

The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police District 13

WHAT: Eight Vehicle Personal Injury Traffic Crash

WHERE: I57 South Bound at Mile Post 92, Jefferson County

WHEN: Friday, October 20, 2017 at 11:48 A.M.

VEHICLES: 2006 Kenworth in 5 axle combination, 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015 Freightliner in 5 axle combination, 2010 Nissan Altima, 2000 Honda Odyssey, 2015 Jeep Wrangler, 2016 Freightliner in 5 axle combination, and a 2008 Pontiac Solstice

DRIVERS: Kenworth – Eulalio Alvarez, a 61 year old male of Edcouch, TX –Uninjured.
Chevrolet – Billy R. Olden, a 73 year old male of Kinmundy, IL – Uninjured.
2015 Freightliner – Zekeria A. Hassan, a 25 year old male of Nashville, TN – Uninjured.
Nissan – Lavondra D. Smith, a 49 year old female of Horn Lake, MS – Minor injuries – Transported via ambulance to a local hospital.
Honda – Martin Ramirez Torres, a 33 year old male of Kirkland, WA – Uninjured.
Jeep – Greg M. Culp, a 50 year old male of Mattoon, IL – Uninjured.
2016 Freightliner – John P. Quaintance, a 62 year old male of Owatanna, MN – Uninjured.
Pontiac – Connie L. Browning, a 55 year old female of Lake Saint Louis, MO – Uninjured.

PASSENGERS: Honda – Bertha Mungia, a 32 year old female of Joliet, IL – Minor injuries – Transported via ambulance to a local hospital.
Honda – Iridian G. Gonzalez, a 19 year old female of Cicero, IL – Uninjured.
Honda – Graciela Hernandez, a 57 year old female of Joliet, IL – Uninjured.
Honda – a 5 year old female of Joliet, IL – Uninjured.
Honda – a 9 year old female of Joliet, IL – Uninjured.
Jeep – Jackie L. Culp, a 51 year old female of Mattoon, IL – Uninjured.
Pontiac – Sandra M. Wagner, a 50 year old female of Dardenne Prairie, MO – Uninjured.

PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigative details indicate all vehicles were south bound on I57 at mile post 92. All vehicles except for the Kenworth were either slowed to a near stop or were completely stopped due to a traffic back up from the bridge construction project located at mile post 89. The 2015 Freightliner was in the center of the three lanes. The Chevrolet was in the right lane of the three. The Kenworth was in the center lane and it’s driver failed to perceive the stopped traffic in time. He swerved to the right avoid striking the rear of the 2015 Freightliner and struck the rear of the Chevrolet. The hood of the Kenworth, which sustained heavy damage in the collision, flew upward blocking the Kenworth’s driver’s view. Disoriented, he then swerved left and struck the right front corner of the 2015 Freightliner. After passing the 2015 Freightliner, the Kenworth continued on, collecting the Nissan, Honda, Jeep, 2016 Freightliner and Pontiac in a chain reaction style crash as it proceeded down the lane marker between the center and right lanes.

All vehicles except for the Jeep and the Pontiac were towed from the scene due to damage. The roadway was closed for approximately 2.5 hours for crash investigation and scene clean up. During the clean-up, all south bound traffic was diverted off of the interstate at the I57 South bound Exit 95 – Illinois Route 15.

CHARGES: Eulalio Alvarez was charged with Failure to Reduce Speed to Avoid a Crash.

All subjects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.