One injured in semi crash on I-57
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By TRAVIS MORSE
tmorse@morningsentinel.com
JEFFERSON COUNTY — One person was injured early Friday following a single-vehicle semi crash near milepost 89 on Interstate 57 southbound in Jefferson County.
Illinois State Police Troop 10 responded to that location at around 1:27 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 9, for a rollover crash involving a truck-tractor semi-trailer. The semi driver was taken to a hospital for treatment, but his name has not been released by authorities. A medical condition report was not available.
According to an ISP news release, all lanes of traffic were shut down at 1:35 a.m. that morning and traffic was diverted. One lane had been reopened by around 7:57 a.m. Friday, and traffic was moving slowly through the area on Friday morning, the release states.
Also responding to the scene were Jefferson Fire Protection District and Mount Vernon Fire Department. The semi in question was reportedly fully loaded with saran wrap, and there was significant diesel fuel leakage as well, said JFPD Capt. Kyle Clinton. For that reason, a major clean-up operation was required, officials said.
“Mount Vernon Fire had to be called in as well for assistance with HAZMAT clean-up and also Environmental Solutions, a clean-up company,” Clinton said, adding that he was pleased with the response to the accident. “Everything ran smoothly.”
The semi driver had reportedly just filled up on fuel in Mount Vernon, and he ended up losing all of his fuel and engine fluids because of the crash, said MVFD Assistant Fire Chief Bryan Jennings.
It is unclear what caused the semi to overturn and what the circumstances were leading up to the accident. No traffic citations were mentioned in the ISP news release.
“This incident is still ongoing and there is no further information available at this time,” the release states.
