Fatal I-55 crash shuts down lanes in southwest suburbs; ‘major’ traffic backups expected

I-55 northbound lanes were shut down in the southwest suburbs during the Thursday morning rush hour commute after a three-vehicle crash that left at least one person dead.

NBC 5 traffic reporter Kye Martin described the closure as a “major traffic alert” for those who take northbound I-55 through Bolingbrook, with heavy delays building.

The crash happened about 3:46 a.m. in the northbound lanes of I-55 at milepost 260 in Romeoville, the Illinois State Police said. One person was pronounced dead on the scene.

The crash left heavy damage to a retaining wall, with debris scattered across the road, Martin said. At least one of the vehicles involved was a semi.

Photos and video from the scene captured by NBC 5 photographer Joe Amigleo showed major backups, with long stretches of cars and trucks sitting in traffic. Multiple emergency vehicles were also on the scene, which appeared to extend into Plainfield.

As of 5:25 a.m., a detour was in place at U.S. 30, Martin said. Drivers will take Division Street to Weber Road where they’ll get back on I-55.

“This impacts you as you commute in from Joliet, from Plainfield,” Martin warned drivers. “This backup is all the way back to before the detour. You do not want to be stuck in this.”

The Romeoville Police Department did not immediately respond to NBC Chicago’s request for more information. This story will be updated as more details become available.