DeKalb County, IL — In a harrowing incident, two people were killed and scores more were injured in a five-vehicle pileup on Interstate 88 in DeKalb County on Tuesday. The catastrophic crash, occurring at approximately 5:19 p.m., was initiated when a pickup truck collided with another car, leading to a chain reaction of additional collisions, Illinois State Police reported.
The multi-vehicle crash took place on the eastbound lanes of I-88, east of Hinckley Road near mile marker 99 in Cortland. The severity of the accident necessitated extensive emergency response efforts, lasting more than four hours, with all eastbound lanes still temporarily closed as clean-up and investigation continued into the evening.
Two passengers in the same vehicle were pronounced dead at the scene, though authorities have yet to release their identities pending notification of next of kin. More than four hours after the crash, no charges or arrests have been announced.
According to preliminary investigations by the Illinois State Police, the pileup commenced when the driver of a pickup truck failed to stop in time for the slowed traffic, hitting another vehicle. The impact caused the second vehicle to strike a third, which then hit a fourth and a fifth vehicle, culminating in the deadly pileup.
One of the drivers suffered serious injuries and was airlifted to a nearby hospital, while another individual reported minor injuries. Emergency responders transported several other injured individuals to local hospitals for medical treatment.
The disruption to traffic was compounded by an earlier crash involving a semi-truck on the same stretch of eastbound I-88 that occurred earlier in the day. Cleanup operations were already in progress, further complicating the traffic flow during the evening rush hour.
As of 9:06 p.m. on Tuesday, all eastbound lanes of I-88 remained closed, with traffic being diverted via Peace Road in DeKalb, ISP spokeswoman Shannon Barrea confirmed. Authorities have not provided an estimate on when the lanes will reopen.
This tragic incident serves as a poignant reminder of the critical need for road safety and the grave consequences that can arise from high-speed traffic collisions. Local authorities continue to conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash and any contributing factors.