One fatality, two injured in a semi crash on I-57

by Steve Dunford

INA, IL – There have been several posts on social media about a serious accident on southbound interstate 57 just north of the Franklin/Jefferson county line.

I spoke with a representative from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s department and said the interstate is closed at the 57/64 split and diverting traffic to Route 37.  The interstate will be closed for several hours.

I am unsure of the northbound lanes at this time, as they usually back up.  I would seek an alternate route as well.

If you are heading to the west side of Franklin County, I would suggest taking Illinois 148.  If you are heading to the east side of the county, I would suggest using Log Cabin Road off of State Route 142.

I need you all to be my eyes to the public, if there is any traffic backing up in the Benton on East or West Main, please let me know, as well as any in the Cities of Christopher and Sesser, because Routes 148 and 14 could get heavy as well.

I will provide further updates as information becomes available.

UPDATE:  Here is a link to the story from WSIL http://www.wsiltv.com/story/35930799/isp-fatal-crash-shuts-down-i-57-near-ina

UPDATE:  12:30 p.m.  Route 37 is backed up in Bonnie.  Here is an option if you need to get to the east side of the county from Mt. Vernon, you can take Interstate 64 to the Belle Rive- Bluford exit (at the 89 Mile Marker),  Go south and that takes you into Belle Rive.  Go East into Dahlgren.  Go south out of town, and it will take you to Route 14.  If going toward Rend Lake College and Wayne Fitzgerell is backed up in Bonnie, you can go East out of town and the road winds around to the Ewing Blacktop.

I talked to Central Dispatch and 148 is in good shape as of now.  If someone would tell how traffic is flowing on North Main and West Main in Benton let me know, especially around the Benton square.

UPDATE:  5:00 p.m.  The interstate is now open.  There was one killed with two injuries.  Here is a link to the latest story from KFVS – TV.

http://www.kfvs12.com/story/35930956/1-dead-2-injured-in-crash-on-i-57-in-jefferson-co-il-involving-multiple-semi-trucks?utm_content=bufferc512b&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer