GOREVILLE – Two separate fatal traffic crashes shut down eastbound I-24 in the Goreville area for several hours around 6 a.m. Friday according to Illinois State Police.
One crash involved two vehicles and a semi at milepost 3
A Honda Civic was sitting still and disabled in between lanes of traffic on eastbound I-24 due to a prior traffic crash. A semi was also going eastbound on I-24 approaching the Civic. The semi sideswiped the Civic. The semi continued off the roadway to the right and struck a Kia Forte. The semi then struck a bridge support. The driver of the semi was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Civic was taken to an area hospital with injuries. Eastbound I-24 was closed and traffic was diverted around the scene using southbound I-57 to Illinois 146.
During this time in the same area, another crash happened involving a semi and a pickup truck.
The semi was slowed in traffic on eastbound I-24 due to the previous traffic crash. A pickup truck was also going east on I-24 approaching the semi. The truck rear-ended the semi. The driver of the pickup truck was pronounced dead at the scene.
Again, eastbound I-24 was closed and traffic was diverted around the scene using I-57 southbound to Illinois 146.
ISP did not release any names of those involved in the accidents. All eastbound lanes of I-24 reopened later in the afternoon.
