Route 53 reopens after multivehicle crash

Black ice is being blamed for a multivehicle crash on Route 53 in Palatine early Tuesday morning.

The crash at just after 4 a.m. blocked the southbound lanes of Route 53 at Northwest Highway for more than two hours, officials said. The roadway has since been cleared, officials said.

The crash involved eight vehicles, authorities said, including a semi-truck. Two people were taken to an area hospital, but both were suffering from nonlife threatening injuries, authorities said.

State police shut down the area for an accident investigation and to bring in salt to spread over the roadway. It was reopened at about 6:30 a.m., officials said.