Man cited in multivehicle accident on I-90
A Michigan truck driver was cited in a Thursday morning "chain-reaction accident" on the Jane Addams Tollway that injured five people, kept the eastbound lanes closed for nearly two hours, and spilled fuel into Elgin's sewer system, authorities said.
Klodian Tili, 45, of Garden City, was cited for failing to reduce speed to avoid an accident. Sgt. Paul Carlos, of the Illinois State Police, said Tili's semitrailer hit a large box truck, which rear-ended a Toyota Highlander. The sport utility vehicle, in turn, rear-ended a second semitrailer, authorities said.
The crash resulted in spilled diesel fuel going into the sewer system, and authorities contained it in a catch basin along the north side of the tollway.
A hazardous materials remediation company, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency helped clean up the spill.
Authorities say the crash on eastbound Interstate 90 took place at 8:35 a.m. at Tyrrell Road and Route 31.
The impact from the collision blocked all three eastbound lanes and authorities closed them soon after. That forced first responders to drive the wrong way down the tollway to get to the accident.
Of those injured, three were taken to Advocate Sherman Hospital in Elgin, and the Elgin Fire Department treated the remaining two on the scene, according to a news release. All had nonlife-threatening injuries.
The tollway reopened at 10:31 a.m.
• Daily Herald staff writer Lee Filas contributed to this story.