Wrong-way driver on Interstate 55 leaves three seriously injured, police say

A wrong-way driver on Interstate 55 near East St. Louis caused a three-vehicle crash that left three people injured early Tuesday morning.

According to Illinois State Police, the crash happened at approximately 1:47 a.m. A driver was traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-55 near milepost 2 when he struck another vehicle head-on, causing it to hit a third vehicle, a semi tractor-trailer.

Three people were taken to a regional hospital with injuries. The southbound lanes of the highway were shut down until 7:15 a.m.

It was not immediately known if alcohol was involved or what caused the driver to travel on the wrong side of the highway. Illinois State Police Troop 8 is investigating the crash.

This story was originally published September 2, 2025 at 9:37 AM.