Both lanes reopened after two crashes near Marengo on westbound I-90

Two late Tuesday morning crashes on Interstate 90 occurred within about a minute of each other and were separated by less than a mile apart, according to Lt. Rick Heine of the Hampshire Fire Protection District.

Both crashes took place near Marengo.

At 11:36 a.m., state police responded to an accident at mile post 38.5 that involved a pickup truck and three semitrailers, authorities said.

According to Illinois State Trooper Michelle Kistulinec, the driver of the pickup truck tried to change lanes, but instead hit the center concrete wall, then veered back into traffic.

At that point, the smaller truck hit one of the semitrailers. The impact resulted in a chain of rear end collisions that involved the three semitrailers, police said.

The male driver of the pickup truck was extricated from the vehicle and taken to St. Anthony Medical Center in Rockford with serious injuries, while three other people were treated at the scene, officials said.

He was also cited for improper lane usage, Kistulinec said.

At 11:37 a.m., the Hampshire fire district responded to another crash at mile post 39.25 that involved a semitrailer and two cars, authorities said.

Two people were taken to Presence St. Joseph Hospital in Elgin with nonlife threatening injuries, while a third person was treated at the scene, authorities said.

Both of the westbound lanes were reopened by Tuesday evening, Kistulinec said.

The accidents originally forced the closure of all lanes heading westbound on I-90. Traffic had been diverted off the tollway at Route 20 near the Hampshire truck stop.