Wrong-way driver hits semi, shuts down Interstate 255 overnight

A wrong-way driver is blamed for a serious early-morning crash Friday in Madison County.

According to police reports, the motorist was driving at just after 1 a.m. in the wrong direction in the northbound lanes of Interstate 255 just south of its interchange with Interstate 270.

The driver, described by police as a woman in her 20s, hit a semi hauling a tank trailer head-on, causing the truck to overturn and block all northbound lanes of the interstate. The highway was closed for about three hours after the collision. But it reopened at about 4 a.m. and no delays remained by the time the morning rush started.

Authorities say both the driver of the car and the semi were taken to area hospitals for treatment. But neither had injuries that were believed to be life-threatening.

There was no information early Friday about what caused the woman to enter the highway going the wrong direction.

This story was originally published January 22, 2016 at 6:43 AM with the headline "Wrong-way driver hits semi, shuts down Interstate 255 overnight."