(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – State authorities have determined that a seventh person was killed in Monday’s deadly pileup on I-55 south of Springfield.
Initially, the Illinois State Police said six motorists were found dead at the scene near milepost 76.
“However, the severity of the crash masked the remains and what was previously believed to be the remains of one individual was two,” the agency said in a news release Tuesday evening.
ISP is working with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office to identify all of the victims. The coroner previously identified one victim as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin.
Nearly 40 survivors ranging from 2 to 80 years old were transported to area hospitals. Approximately 72 vehicles were involved in the crashes that occurred in both lanes of I-55 between mile post 72 and 78 around 11 a.m. on Monday.
Officials said loose dirt from farming fields was blown by high winds, creating a blackout condition at the time of the pileup.
On Tuesday, state police again closed a section of I-55 because of high winds.
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