Multiple crashes involving more than 100 vehicles are part of a traffic nightmare on Interstate 39, near El Paso, Illinois, on a snowy Thursday evening.
The pileup has caused traffic on I-39 southbound to shut down temporarily. Authorities are directing vehicles around the pileup to go around the blockage through Illinois Route 251. No injuries have been reported so far, though the shutdown is expected to last approximately 12 hours, Illinois state police announced in a tweet at 8 p.m. EST.
“We highly encourage you to avoid any travel at this time due to hazardous road conditions,” state police said in the tweet.
“Heavy snow will continue across central Illinois for the next couple of hours before diminishing later this evening. Gusty winds and heavy snow have led to significantly reduced visibility and dangerous travel conditions. If you must travel, take it slow!” the National Weather Service warned.
Heavy snow will continue across central Illinois for the next couple of hours before diminishing later this evening. Gusty winds and heavy snow have led to significantly reduced visibility and dangerous travel conditions. If you must travel, take it slow! #ilwx pic.twitter.com/KFZACfTlsk
— NWS Lincoln IL (@NWSLincolnIL) February 18, 2022
100 MILLION UNDER WINTER WEATHER WARNINGS AS STORM CROSSES US
The Illinois Department of Transportation warned drivers Thursday that a winter storm was causing icy conditions across the state and told drivers to beware of whiteouts in the snowstorms.
Multiple other crashes have been reported across the state. A multicar crash occurred on I-57, blocking traffic in all lanes, and another crash happened near Champaign on I-74 involving multiple semitrailers.
“Numerous crashes and whiteout conditions are making travel extremely dangerous, if not impossible,” Master Sgt. Matt McCormick said, according to the Associated Press.
In addition, more than 500 flights were canceled in Illinois after severe weather conditions made runways unsafe for takeoff.
The Washington Examiner reached out to the Illinois DOT and Illinois State Police for updates.
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
Officials in Kansas, Ohio, and Missouri have also warned travelers of icy and potentially dangerous conditions, according to Weather.com. There have been reports of stranded drivers in Missouri, and a state trooper’s car in Kansas was smashed by a semitruck. The Kansas Highway Patrol confirmed that the driver is OK.
