COLES COUNTY, Ill. – In a day of traffic turmoil, Interstate 57 experienced not one, but three crashes on Wednesday, leading to the closure of an 8-mile stretch of the interstate.
The chaotic day began with a multi-vehicle crash near milepost 182, fortunately resulting in only minor injuries. However, the situation took a turn for the worse as two more crashes occurred in the traffic backup, forcing authorities to shut down a significant portion of I-57.
For hours, motorists were diverted onto alternate routes including Route 45, with traffic being directed off the highway at different exits. The closures extended all the way to Douglas County, leaving drivers facing an almost 20-mile detour.
Thankfully, late Wednesday night, after a thorough investigation, authorities were able to reopen all lanes and miles of Interstate 57, bringing an end to the day of traffic woes.
