Truck Accident Shuts Down I-55

A semi-trailer truck crashed during a rainstorm on Thursday afternoon on I-55 on the west side of Normal and then burst into flames, although the driver suffered fairly minor injuries. Haider Alijayashi, 45, of Minnesota, was driving north close to mile marker 161 when he lost control of the truck at 2:42 pm during an “intense rainstorm,” according to reports from police. The truck jackknifed and hit the center median barrier before catching fire.

Alijayashi was transported to Advocate BroMenn Medical Center in Normal for treatment and was released. He was charged with driving too fast for conditions. Northbound lanes on the I-55 were shut down for nearly 45 minutes as firefighters put out the fire, and the smoke could be seen from Illinois 9 close to a mile away.

Wreckage was scattered across the highway, and a crew from the Illinois Department of Transportation was sent to aid in cleanup. Traffic was narrowed until around 6:00 pm when the last lane was reopened. Police reports did not indicate what the truck was carrying, although firefighters found smoke damage to the cargo.