Downstate I-55 pileup death toll rises to 7, highway reopens after second closure
DIVERNON, Ill. (CBS) -- Police say they identified a seventh fatality related to Monday's pileup crash involving dozens of vehicles on a long stretch of Interstate 55 south of Springfield.
Illinois State Police said while they initially thought six people had died, the severity of a crash scene on the highway masked the remains of what they thought was one person. It turned out to be the remains of two individuals. ISP is working with the Montgomery County Coroner's Office to confirm the identity of the victims.
Authorities have only publicly identified Shirley Harper, 88, of Wisconsin, who died in the crash.
A large stretch of the interstate was again closed for several hours the day after a dust storm caused the massive pileup. But the Illinois Department of Transportation said shortly before 6 p.m. that the road had reopened.
Illinois State Police announced the second closure out of an abundance of caution Tuesday afternoon and said it was the same stretch of road between Montgomery and Sangamon counties that was closed between Monday's pileup and early Tuesday morning. ISP added there were no crashes in the area.
The roadway was later reopened.
No crashes at this time, but out of an abundance of caution, ISP and Illinois Department of Transportation are closing southbound and northbound I-55 between mileposts 63 and 82, the same stretch as yesterday, due to high winds and low visibility. pic.twitter.com/pE5AudkN6a
— IllinoisStatePolice (@ILStatePolice) May 2, 2023
"Life is a vapor," said Velina Hames. "Life is very short."
And after dust came in like vapor on Monday, a patch of ash was left behind a day later where a cloud of destruction once was.
"I heard a big crash, and I hit the vehicle in front of me," Hames said. "I didn't see it, at all."
Many other drivers also did not see it coming.
"It was horrific," Hames said. "I've never been scareder in my life."
Julie Ingold was traveling up I-55 with her husband Monday. Their car was just one of at least 72 vehicles that got stalled on the road – stuck for hours waiting in a cloud of dust for help.
"Three and half hours of being on pins and needles - specifically because we thought we were going to be taken over by a fire," Ingold said.
Earlier on Tuesday, the owners of vehicles came back to assess the damage on their cars after having to abandon them. More than 70 vehicles were involved.
Police said 37 people were transported to four local hospitals as a result of Monday's pileup and as of Tuesday, seven people were still hospitalized.
Police are asking the public for help identifying the final two victims. One was driving a blue Chrysler 300 and the other was in a Hyndai, though the damage was too extensive to tell what color it is.
As police sort through the mess, CBS 2 heard from more people who were caught in the pileup.
"There was a semi right in front of me, so I had to turn really fast into the grass and as I did that, somebody came up behind me and rear ended me because they probably couldn't see me either," said Cambria Underwood, who was in a car witha 3-year-old at the time. "I am very grateful, like I can't even say that I'm upset about the car. I know it is kind of a stressful situation. But I'm not that upset because I lived and we weren't injured. We weren't hurt and we're still here and we're OK."
Hames was one of the many who came to retrieve their belongings from their cars.
"My daughter has medication in there so it would really be a blessing if we didn't have to track down new medication for her because that might take a day or two," Hames said. "And she's already been without it for 24 hours."
She said there's no fixing her SUV which was "smashed on the sides, the roof." She said she could barely get out of her car.
Illinois State police are looking at the surrounding area to figure out where the dust came from. They think it might be related to dry soil in nearby farmland that blew with the wind.
They're not sure this could have been avoided, but that's why they again closed the section of the interstate.
State police set up a hotline for anyone with information they can use to identify the two victims in the crash. Those with information can call (618) 346-3653.
Many vehicles involved in the pileup will be released beginning on Wednesday at 8 a.m. Those traveling south on the highway are asked to call (217) 685-4354 to arrange a pickup of their car. Those traveling north should call (618) 346-3653 for a pickup.
Some, but not all, of the vehicles involved will be released.