Number of Dead From Crash on Interstate 57 Now at Three

The number of people killed in the crash Thursday on I-57 in Coles County has been updated to three.

Coles County Deputy Coroner Greg Epperson said two people traveling together were killed when their stopped vehcle was hit from behind. The two individuals were stopped by the earlier crash on I-57 about two miles south of the Illinois Route 16 interchange. The second crash occurred about one mile south of the Lake Land College interchange.

District 10 Illinois State Police had reported overnight that one person was killed. That person has been identified as a Palm Coast, Florida man, 50-year-old Andrzeja Poprawa, who was driving one of the semi tractor-trailers involved in the second crash.

Epperson said authorities were still completing identification of the other two fatalities, but said they are from outside the immediate area.

In addition to those killed in the crash, a 59-year-old Charleston man was injured in the second crash and was taken for treatment.