100-vehicle pileup leads to chaotic scene in snowy Illinois, photos and videos show
More than 100 vehicles were involved in a massive pileup on Interstate 39 in snowy Illinois on Thursday, Feb. 17, and the roadway remains closed a day later, officials say.
The pileup happened in El Paso, eventually shutting down a 17-mile stretch of the interstate from Normal to Minonk, Illinois State Police said. Officials earlier in the day warned of “high rates of snowfall and blizzard-like conditions” that would cause poor driving conditions throughout Illinois.
El Paso is about 125 miles southwest of Chicago.
The first collision was reported around 3:15 p.m. Thursday, eventually causing 28 vehicles to be damaged and dozens of others to run off the roadway, WGLT reported.
The City of El Paso said there were “a few minor injuries” and people were being sheltered in the town’s library and city municipal building. The city’s school district provided a school bus to transport people away from the pileup, the El Paso Emergency Squad said.
As of 5 a.m. Friday, the interstate remained closed in both directions and it was not expected to reopen until midday, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.
Images and video show dozens of semis involved in the massive pileup.
Warning: Some videos below contain graphic language.
Massive pileup on I-39 near El Paso, IL pic.twitter.com/PhyHk8QcUl
— Simon Brewer (@SimonStormRider) February 18, 2022
100 car pileup outside of El Paso, IL this afternoon has the interstate closed #snowmageddon pic.twitter.com/R41aIb3gRC
— White Trash Peg (@whitetrashart) February 17, 2022
WATCH: Viewer Chad Gubitz sent in this video of the current conditions on I-39 near El Paso where it is reported 100 plus vehicles are stuck in traffic due to a crash.
Read more here: https://t.co/0mJMRGBzsW pic.twitter.com/55kJ0C7n0O— WMBD News (@WMBDNews) February 17, 2022
100 car pile-up on I-39 Southbound near #Kappa Illinois, outside of #Bloomington #Normal. #accident #interstate39 #I39 @IDOT_Illinois @ILStatePolice pic.twitter.com/TBWB0dpDSx
— Katie Hepworth Spoon (@SpoonZoo_Meidas) February 17, 2022
At least 100 vehicles collided on Interstate 39 as a snowstorm wreaked havoc in Illinois. USA pic.twitter.com/y4pHlBHNO7
— NEWS/INCIDENTS (@Brave_spirit81) February 18, 2022
J.W. Price, the mayor of El Paso, said Friday he has “never been more proud of our community” as he was Thursday.
“Everyone in our community played a role, and after an incident of this magnitude, it only solidifies why El Paso is such a wonderful community to call home,” Price said as he thanked first responders and citizens who stepped up to help.
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