Police name 7th victim from fatal crashes on I-55 in Central Illinois – The seventh victim of a string of collisions that occurred on May 1 on Interstate 55 in Montgomery County, Illinois, has been identified by the Illinois State Police. ISP announced on Thursday that Otto Medina-Salazar, 58, a resident of Carthage, Missouri, was identified as the seventh victim of the collisions. ISP had previously identified the six other victims as follows: Shirley Harper, 88, of Franklin, Wisconsin; Joseph Bates, 73, of Crystal Lake; Donna Bates, 71, of Crystal Lake; Earl LeGrand, 64, of Florissant, Missouri; Michael Zinchuk, 55, of Champaign; and Amy Zinchuk, 54, of Champaign.
After high winds and dust caused eyesight to become considerably hindered late that morning on Interstate 55 between mile markers 72 and 78, close to Farmersville, a total of 72 vehicles were involved in the incidents that occurred as a result. The information provided by the ISP indicates that 37 people were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment of injuries ranging from relatively minor to life-threatening.
According to a statement that was released by the organization on Thursday, the phrase “ISP recognizes the impact of this tragic event and offers its condolences to families and friends mourning their loss” was included in the text of the statement. This phrase was included because it was part of the statement that the agency issued. ISP would like to express its gratitude to all of its first responder partners and sister agencies for the outstanding effort and help they provided during this tragedy.
