A seventh body has been found from the I-55 crash that occurred on Monday.  ISP located the fatality after originally believing that six individuals were found deceased on the scene. The severity of the crash masked the remains and what was previously believed to be the remains of one person, was actually two.  ISP is working closely with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office to confirm the identity of the seven individuals. One person has been identified; 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin.  

Many vehicles involved in those crashes will be released on May 3rd, at 8 AM. If you were traveling south on I-55 prior to the crash, please call 217-685-4354 to arrange pickup for your vehicle.  If you were traveling northbound on I-55 please call 618-346-3653 to arrange pickup for your vehicle. Some, but not all, vehicles traveling northbound on I-55 will be released. 

ISP says that these instructions still apply if your vehicle will be retrieved by a tow service, as additional information needs to be gathered at the time your vehicle is released.  People retrieving vehicles must provide their driver’s license and insurance to the ISP Command Vehicle located at the intersection of Brown and Henrietta in Divernon.  An officer will ask basic questions such as, who was in the vehicle, your phone number, and insurance card information.  Adjustors and/or private reconstruction are not allowed to gain access to the vehicles until May 3, 2023 after they are processed.

ISP officially thanked everyone that came out to support this mass casualty situation. Law enforcement personnel from Divernon Police Department, Hillsboro Police Department, Litchfield Police Department, Macoupin County Sheriff’s Office, and Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. The following Fire Departments also responded to the scene: Carlinville Fire Department, Chatham Fire Department, Divernon Fire Department, Farmersville Fire Protection District, Girard Fire Department, Pawnee Fire Department, Rochester Fire Department, Shell Creek Fire Department, Springfield Fire Department, Springfield Hazmat, and Virden Fire Department.

Emergency medical services were provided by: Five helicopters from Air Evac and Arch, America Ambulance Service, Bunker Hill Ambulance Service, Carlinville Ambulance, Chatham Ambulance, Echo 6 Ambulance, Gillespie/Benld Ambulance, Hillsboro Ambulance, Litchfield Ambulance Service, Medic First Ambulance, Morrisonville Ambulance Service, Nokomis Ambulance, Pawnee Ambulance, Prairieland Ambulance Service, Raymond Ambulance Service, Stoughton Ambulance, and Virden Ambulance Service.

The Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Illinois Emergency Management Agency, and the Illinois Secretary of State Police also provided personnel on scene. The Macoupin County Coroner, Montgomery County Coroner, and Sangamon County Coroner are assisting with the fatalities.