Crash involving semi on Route 53 shuts down 2 lanes

A three-vehicle crash involving a semi-trailer truck on Route 53 in Schaumburg shut down two northbound lanes for more than two hours while crews worked to pull tow the semi out of a muddy ditch, according to fire officials.

The driver of the semitrailer, which was hauling frozen pretzels, swerved out of the way of a two vehicle crash in the northbound lanes of Route 53 near Higgins Road at about 6:15 p.m., fire officials said.

The truck struck the two vehicles before veering over the shoulder on the east side of the road, said Schaumburg Fire Batallion Chief Rick Anderson.

“He was in the mud probably 40 feet off the shoulder, a deep ditch with cattails,” Anderson said.

Three passengers in the two vehicles suffered minor injuries, but signed releases at the scene and were not hospitalized, Anderson said.

Investigators said the front of the semitrailer was severely damaged, but the vehicle remained upright as it traveled off the roadway.

All lanes were reopened by about 8:45 p.m., according to an Illinois State Police official.