Rachael Perry has an update on how many people were injured in the crash and talks to two people who say they’re thankful to be okay.
UPDATE (WKOW) – The Wisconsin State Patrol reports 85 vehicles were involved in a crash that closed I-39/90 between Beloit and Janesville for more than eight hours.
According to the State Patrol, 21 people were injured in the multi-vehicle crash.
UPDATE (WKOW) – All lanes of I-39/90 near Beloit have reopened after a heavy pile-up earlier in the day.
The southbound lanes reopened around 8pm on Friday. About 45 minutes later, the northbound lanes were reopened.
BELOIT (WKOW) – All lanes of I-39/90 are closed near Beloit due to a crash Friday afternoon, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The crash happened around 12:30 p.m. near mile marker 181, and the Wisconsin State Patrol is responding. The State Patrol told 27 News “up to 50 cars are involved.”
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook asked drivers to avoid the area. The office said its personnel are “currently dealing with multiple multi-vehicle crashes and subsequent pileups.”
The State Patrol said they believe snow, ice and whiteout conditions were a factor in the initial crash.
Beloit Memorial Hospital officials told 27 News’ Rockford affiliate that 27 patients from the crash are in their care. The injuries reported at the hospital are head, neck and shoulder pain. No further information about the patients’ injuries or conditions was immediately available.
The hospital said they will not be accepting any more patients. Medical personnel have been informed that all patients have been recovered from the scene.
The first patient arrived around 1:40 p.m., an hour after the accident.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, the stretch of I-39/90 is closed from County Road S to WIS 11 West / Avalon Road. It is a seven mile long closure.
This video from Carter Wilson in Janesville shows a line of semis involved in a crash that injured one person on I-39 near Beloit and a fire near one of the trucks.
For detours, drivers traveling north should get off at exit 183, then go south to HWY BT, west to HWY G, north to HWY 11 and then east to I-39/90.
For southbound drivers, take the 11 Freeway exit, go west to the G Freeway, south to the S Freeway, then north back to I-39/90.
The State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies are assisting the cars involved, investigating the crash and working to clear the road.
Don Driscoll with Beloit Transit confirmed to 27 News that they are sending a bus to assist with the crash. 27 News’ Rockford affiliate reports 21 people took the bus to Beloit Memorial Hospital to stay out of the cold. No one on the bus was injured in the crash.
WisDOT 511 cameras show severe backups.
Video courtesy of Carter Wilson
This is a developing story that will be updated.
