Early Monday morning, a significant crash on I-80 near Morris, Illinois, resulted in the closure of all westbound lanes. The incident involved two semi-trucks and occurred around 5:15 a.m. near the Route 47 exit, as reported by WGN-TV. According to the Illinois State Police, one vehicle jackknifed during the crash while the other came to rest on its side, completely obstructing the roadway and causing considerable delays.
Both drivers involved in the crash were transported to an area hospital with injuries, noted the state police. Striking a ditch off the road, SkyCam 9 captured footage of one semi, while the other was visibly overturned, spilling its payload of dry rice and other debris on the highway. This account was confirmed by FOX 32 Chicago.
Traffic was directed to exit the highway at Brisbin Road as a detour during the ongoing investigation and clean-up. At present, it remains unclear how the crash happened, and the authorities have not disclosed an estimate for when the interstate will reopen, leaving drivers to navigate the disruption without a definite timeline.
Following its latest update just after 7:30 a.m. Monday, the Illinois State Police announced that the lane closures are "expected to continue for approximately four to five hours," a fact which motorists should bear in mind while planning their day around the Route 47 exit. The crash's aftermath was notably significant, with the involved semis resulting in scattered debris creating hazardous conditions for responders and cleanup crews.
