One person was airlifted from an accident that occurred two miles south of Salem shortly before midnight on Sunday.
According to a report from the Illinois State Police, 36 year old, Eliezer Jose Lerda Guido, of Los Indios, Texas was towing a boom truck in the right lane of I-57 southbound. Approaching Guido was a semi tractor-trailer being driven by 25 year old, Mohammed Adan Alshadood, of Detroit, Michigan. Alshadood appeared to have noticed the slower moving Guido and attempted to take evasive action by braking and heading right towards the shoulder. Alshdood struck the rear corner of the boom truck, causing it to break free. The boom truck traveled several hundred and overturned in the ditch. Alshadood then traveled into the ditch, next to the boom truck, and both vehicle burst into flames. Alashadood was able to free himself from his vehicle. Alshadood was transported by helicopter to St John’s Mercy Hospital Burn Unit in St. Louis, Missouri. The wooded area next to the wreckage caught fire and burned a great distance.
The Illinois State Police were assisted by the Illinois State Police District 13, the Illinois State Police Accident Reconstruction Unit, the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Marion County Emergency Services and Disaster Agency, the Salem Fire Department and the Marion County Sheriff’s Department. Both lanes of I-57 southbound were reopened at 7:00am on Monday. Charges are pending investigation.