Illinois State Police report a crash involving three vehicles early Friday forced the closure of a section of I-57 south of Paxton in Ford County.  A northbound semi was hit in the rear by a passenger vehicle. That passenger vehicle stalled in the right lane of the interstate with no lights activated.  A second truck tractor semi-trailer struck the stalled passenger vehicle. Both of those vehicles then crossed the median and came to rest in the southbound lanes.

Police say the driver of the passenger vehicle was transported to the hospital with life threatening injuries.

ISP reported the northbound lanes of I-57 were closed. A detour directed traffic to Route 45.

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