Accident on I-57 closes road, causes evacuations

By Daily Illini Staff Report

A tanker carrying a substance used in manufacturing shampoo overturned on I-57 in Champaign Saturday, causing area homes to be evacuated.

The crash, which happened around 7 a.m., is causing reroutes going both northbound and southbound on I-57, according to a press release from the Illinois State Police.

Both lanes could be closed for up to 24 hours.

The Champaign Fire Department said in a press release that they were evacuating areas near the crash site starting at 3 p.m. due to shifting winds. The evacuated areas include: the 3300 to 3340 block of Katie Lynn Drive, 3300 to 3400 block of Edward Hoffman Drive, 3300 to 3400 block of Florence Drive and 800 to 900 block of Erin Drive.

The driver of the truck, Derrick Williams, 33 from Baton Rouge, was charged with driving too fast for conditions and failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

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The truck was changing from the right lane to the left lane near milepost 235.5 when Williams lost control, according to the release. The tanker unattached from the tractor and the trailer turned on its side. The tanker then slid into the center median and the tractor slid into a ditch.