OTTAWA, Illinois — Illinois State Police say three people were killed in a 6 vehicle crash that happened around 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 1. The crash occurred on Interstate 80 westbound near mile marker 93 in Ottawa.
Three semi trailers, two large trucks and one car were involved. Officials say a car was pushed under a semi after it was rear-ended by a gravel truck that didn't slow down. That caused a chain reaction crash involving the other vehicles. Two of the vehicles went up in flames, killing their passengers.
Westbound lanes of I-80 were closed for about nine hours.
The driver of the gravel truck, Donald Breckenridge, has been cited for failing to reduce speed. The investigation is still ongoing, says Illinois State Police.
The victims are all from the Chicago area, and were 25, 26, and 34 years old.
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