One person was critically injured after a vehicle crashed into the Vermilion River in an accident that closed lanes on Interstate 55 near Pontiac Monday afternoon, authorities said.
Two people were hospitalized following the accident near mile marker 198 on the major roadway, according to Illinois State Police.
At least one person, who police say was a child, was taken to OSF Saint Francis Medical Center in critical condition, authorities and the hospital said.
Details on what caused the crash weren’t immediately known but crews could be seen removing a mangled vehicle from the water off the side of the expressway.
The ages of those injured weren’t immediately released.
I-55 southbound was closed at the time between Route 23 and Route 116. Borthbound lanes remained open. Traffic remained backed up for miles in the southbound lanes as of just before 4 p.m.
