Police respond to nearly 75 crashes in less than six hours after winter weather hits region

Illinois State Police worked multiple crashes, including one involving a trooper who was rear-ended, on Friday night after an early winter snow storm in the metro-east.

State troopers called for reinforcements about 10 p.m. after there were multiple crashes during the storm on Friday, said Trooper Doug Hays.

There were no fatalities reported.

There were 73 reports of crashes in St. Clair County between 6:45 p.m. and midnight Friday, according to Herb Simmons of the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency.

A trooper responding to a crash on southbound Interstate 55 near Illinois Route 111 was injured when his squad car was rear ended by another motorists, Hays said. The trooper, who was not identified, was taken to a St. Louis hospital where he was treated and released.

“When the weather changes fast, we get the calls,” Hays said. “This one came fast. And it kind of got us,” Hays said.

Both directions of Illinois 15 near Demazenod Drive were closed for about two hours Friday night because of a multiple-car crash with injuries, the St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency reported.

This story was originally published November 10, 2018 at 8:01 AM with the headline "Police respond to nearly 75 crashes in less than six hours after winter weather hits region."