Semi Crashes Wednesday, Catches Fire

(TRAFFIC WAS BACKED UP FOR MILES FROM THE CRASH)

No injuries resulted from a crash involving a semi that then caught fire.

The crash was reported just before 1pm Wednesday on I-70 eastbound, just east of the construction zone on Effingham's north side. The crash scene is in the Teutopolis Fire Protection District. Teutopolis Fire Chief Tim McMahon said due to the crash being at the construction zone and traffic being backed up for miles, fire crews had to gain access to the semi by going to the overpass on 1650th Street north of the Teutopolis frontage road.

When crews reached the scene, they found the semi had gone through the guardrail and into the ditch and the interior of the tractor on fire. Due to debris on the roadway from the crash, I-70 eastbound was shut down for approximately 30 minutes while emergency crews put out the fire and removed the debris.

Illinois State Police handled the crash. Teutopolis firefighters were assisted by the Effingham Fire Department and Effingham City-County Ambulance Service.