One dead after four-vehicle crash in construction zone near O’Fallon, ISP says

One person is dead following a construction-zone crash on eastbound Interstate 64 near O’Fallon.

An Illinois State Police release said the crash occurred at about 8 a.m. Tuesday. It involved two tractor-trailers, a utility work truck and a Ford Bronco.

No other details, including the identity of the deceased person, have been released pending an investigation.

“There were no reported injuries to construction zone workers or damage to IDOT or construction vehicles,” according to the press release. “The right lane of I-64 eastbound remained open to traffic during the crash investigation.”

The closures are part of the Illinois Department of Transportation’s preparations for improvements at the Green Mount Road exit and additional I-64 work. Traffic volume along this corridor has increased more than 40% in the past 20 years and continues to rise, according to IDOT.

Cars can stack up on I-64’s eastbound Exit 16 ramp as they wait at the traffic light at the North Green Mount Road intersection, those who use it have complained. At times the line of cars is so long that it backs up onto the interstate, creating the potential for rear-end crashes from oncoming traffic.

U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski raised concerns about the danger in September 2024 after seeing a viral TikTok video of traffic backing up onto I-64 from the Exit 16 ramp, with most cars waiting to turn right into Shiloh.

Interstate-64 was constructed in 1975 with four 12-foot lanes, but traffic growth and nearby development have necessitated several upgrades. In 2000, the Green Mount Road interchange was built, and the interstate was widened from four to six lanes between Illinois 157 and Green Mount.