UPDATED: 5:51 p.m.
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The chain-reaction crashes along Interstate 55 south of Springfield Monday have gotten worse.
Illinois State Police say they now believe seven people were killed by the crashes caused when visibility was severely reduced due to dust storms in the area.
They say they originally thought the death toll was six, but “the severity of the crash masked the remains, and what was previously believed to be the remains of one individual was two.”
Dozens more from two to 80 years old were injured in the crash that involved as many as 72 vehicles.
Identities of the victims are still trying to be made.
Vehicles involved in the crash, officials say, will start to be released Wednesday morning.
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Illinois State Police says the same stretch of I-55 closed Monday, is closed again Tuesday afternoon because of conditions similar to those that caused Monday’s fatal crashes.
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DIVERNON, Ill. — Illinois State Police said at least 72 vehicles were involved in the deadly crash on Interstate 55 on Monday that was caused by a lack of visibility in a dust storm.
ISP Director Brendan Kelly said investigators are still trying to identify some of the victims with the help of crime scene services, due to the severity of the crash.
“We have two unidentified victims, two individuals who have of yet be identified, and we’re needing information from the public, or potentially from family members or witnesses, or anybody that may know anything about the identity of these two individuals,” Kelly said.
Six people were killed and dozens more were injured. The ages of the victims ranging between two and 80 years old.
The only victim whose name has been released so far is 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin.
Kelly was asked at a Tuesday news conference why officials didn’t decide on closing the road before the storm.
“At this stage, we don’t have any reason to believe that there were factors indicating the interstate should have been shut down. Preemptively, there was nothing that would have warranted that,” Kelly said.
Illinois State Police has set up a hotline for those involved in the crashes, those with questions, or those with information that could assist their investigation at (618) 346-3653.
ISP has set up a phone number for people involved in Monday’s crash on I-55 near milepost 76. If you have information or questions call 618-346-3653. pic.twitter.com/4UcZcIowGd
— IllinoisStatePolice (@ILStatePolice) May 2, 2023
