Car crashes in southwest IL are piling up as rain and snow give way to icy roads
Temperatures are continuing to fall in the metro-east on Thursday, following rain and a wintry mix earlier in the day.
In the afternoon and evening, roads are likely to be slick as temps fall below freezing. Lydia Jaja, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in St. Louis, discouraged travel on Thursday, but said she doesn’t expect it to affect the Friday morning commute.
Many school districts in the metro-east had an early release day because of road conditions; even more districts canceled after-school activities.
Crashes started occurring in St. Clair County at lunchtime just as the roads started getting icy. There were 28 crashes reported in the county between noon and 3 p.m., St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency Director Herb Simmons said.
“It just goes to show you how quick it can change,” Simmons said.
Simmons noted that the county closed the courthouse at 1:30 p.m. so employees could get home safely.
His advice to commuters: “If they can get home early, that’s the best thing to do.”
The St. Clair County Emergency Management Agency reported several accidents on its Facebook page on Thursday:
- Vehicle accident with a pole in the 1900 block of Camp Jackson in Cahokia
- Roll-over accident in the 2200 block of N. 81st St. in Caseyville
- Accident at Frank Scott Parkway at Memorial Lane in Belleville
- Four-vehicle accident on 157 at Lake Dr.
- Accident in the 500 block of Carlyle Ave. in Belleville
- Accident at Frank Scott Parkway at Arbor Meadows
- Accident on I-255 northbound at the 12-mile marker
- Accident on I-64 westbound at the 9-mile marker
- Vehicle slid off the road on American Grain St. in Cahokia
- Accident on I-255 at the 13-mile marker
- Accident with injuries at the 5-mile marker on I-64
- Numerous accidents on I-64 on the west end of St. Clair County
- Car accident on I-255 at the 21-mile marker
- Accident at West State Rt. 15 and Old St. Louis Rd.
- Accident with injuries on I-64 at 6-mile marker
- Accident with injuries on I-55/70 at the 6-mile marker
Illinois State Police handled 18 crashes and 20 motorists assists between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. in District 11, which is a five-county area of St. Clair, Madison, Clinton, Monroe and Bond.
No injuries were immediately reported, according to district spokesman Trooper Josh Korando.
“It is unknown if all of them are weather related, but they all occurred after the freezing rain started,” he said in an email.
Korando urged residents to “only travel on the roadways if absolutely necessary.”
“As always, please be mindful of the snow plows, tow trucks, and emergency response vehicles that are working in these hazardous conditions,” he said.
Reporter Mike Koziatek contributed reporting.
This story was originally published February 17, 2022 at 3:34 PM.
