Rachael Perry found out how many people were injured in the crash and spoke to two people who said they were glad they were safe.
UPDATE (WKOW) – The Wisconsin State Patrol reported 85 vehicles were involved in a crash that closed I-39/90 between Beloit and Janesville for over eight hours .
According to the State Patrol, 21 people were injured in the multi-vehicle collision.
UPDATE (WKOW) – All lanes of I-39/90 near Beloit have reopened following a large traffic accident earlier in the day.
Southbound lanes reopened around 8 p.m. Friday. The northbound lanes reopened approximately 45 minutes later.
BELOIT (WKOW) – All lanes near I-39/90 are closed due to a Friday afternoon crash, according to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.
The crash occurred around 12:30 p.m., near the mile marker 181, and the Wisconsin State Patrol responded. “As many as 50 vehicles were involved,” the State Patrol told 27 News.
The Rock County Sheriff’s Office asked drivers to avoid the area on Facebook. The office said its personnel are “currently responding to several multi-vehicle incidents and subsequent collisions.”
The State Patrol said they believed snow, ice and white cloud conditions were a factor in the initial crash.
Beloit Memorial Hospital officials told 27 News’ Rockford branch that they were caring for 27 crash patients. The injuries reported to the hospital were head, neck and shoulder pain. No further information was available on the injuries or the patient’s condition at this time.
The hospital said they would not be taking any more patients. Medical staff were told that all patients have recovered from the scene.
The first patient arrived around 1.40pm, an hour after the crash.
According to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, I-39/90 is closed from County Road S to WIS 11 West/Avalon Road. It’s about seven miles long off.
This video from Janesville Carter Wilson shows a series of semi-trailer trucks crashing on I-39 near Beloit, injuring one person and setting fire near one of the trucks.
To make a detour, northbound drivers should exit at Exit 183, then go south to HWY BT, west to HWY G, north to HWY 11, then east to return to I-39/90.
For southbound drivers, take the HWY 11 exit, go west to HWY G, south to HWY S, then north back to I-39/90.
State Patrol and other law enforcement agencies are assisting the car involved, investigating the accident and working to clear the road.
Beloit Transit’s Don Driscoll confirmed to 27 News that they are sending a bus to assist with the incident. The Rockford affiliate of 27 News reported that 21 people took a bus to Beloit Memorial Hospital to escape the cold. No one on the bus was injured in the accident.
WisDOT 511 camera showing bad backup.
Video courtesy of Carter Wilson
This is a developing story and will be updated.