WHITE CO., Ill.—Both lanes of Interstate 64 were closed this morning after a hazmat spill that sent the truck driver to an area hospital; however, I-64 westbound has now been opened up to one lane, from mile post 127-125, around the crash scene. The Illinois State Police urges travelers to slow down and use caution while emergency personnel and clean up crews work at the scene. It is anticipated I-64 will be down to one lane of traffic for the next three to four hours.
According to the preliminary traffic crash investigation underway by Illinois State Police District 19 out of Carmi, the accident occurred at 12:19 a.m. this morning in the westbound lane of I-64 at the Mile Post marker 126, when a white Freightliner (semi-trailer combination), driven by Lewis N. Daugherty, 61, of House Springs, Missouri and transporting hazardous materials, for reasons unknown exited the roadway to the north and overturned.
Hazardous materials spilled from the semi-trailer into a nearby ditch. ISP has not listed what the hazardous materials were. Containment and clean-up of the hazardous materials was underway immediately following the crash.
All lanes of I-64 between US Rt. 45 (exit 110) and Illinois Rt. 1 (exit 130) were closed as of last report.
Daugherty was transported by White County Ambulance Service to an area hospital for treatment of injuries sustained in the crash. There were no passengers with him in the truck.
ISP District 19 was assisted at the crash scene by the White County Sheriff?s Department, Little Wabash Fire Protection District, Mt. Carmel Fire Department, Mt. Vernon Fire Department, Centralia Fire Department and the Illinois Department of Transportation.