Update as of 11:41am:
Utica, Wallace, and Ottawa fire fighters and ambulances were at the scene of a traffic crash on Interstate 80 about three miles west of the Illinois 23 Ottawa exit this morning. At least two vehicles burned up. Police have not said how badly hurt anyone involved is. Nor have they said how many vehicles were involved. It appeared a truck hauling a short trailer loaded with car batteries and a pickup truck burned up.
Westbound I-80 traffic is backed up at least as far east as Ottawa. Eastbound traffic is moving again. The LaSalle County Sheriff’s Dept. has a deputy on N. 30th Rd. alongside the Interstate in case traffic control is needed there.
The crash happened just east of E. 13th Rd. which ends in a T-intersection with N. 30th Rd. The crash scene is very close to the west end of the old Interstate highway test loop used by the U.S. Army in the late 1950s.
Update by Rick Koshko
The crash scene late morning September 25, 2020
Contributed photo of the scene from an overpass crossing I-80 east of the crash scene
Older story by Michael McKenna:
Shortly after 9am Friday a multiple vehicle accident took place with multiple explosions reported on I80 between Utica exit 81 and and Ottawa exit 90.
Multiple Fire Departments are on the scene.
A Life Flight helicopter reported leaving the scene taking injured to hospital.
West bound traffic on I80 is closed at this time and possibly may be rerouting Eastbound as well.
Motorists are urged to reroute to avoid I80 in LaSalle County.
Listen for details on WCMY news.