ILLINOIS — The northbound lanes of Interstate 57 were closed for several hours Monday night due a three-vehicle crash that required the extensive extrication efforts and sent one three people to hospitals for treatment of injuries.

According to the Illinois State Police, 39-year-old James Harlan, of Thayer, Mo., was driving his semi-truck northbound on I-57 near mile marker 104 north of Dix around 5:17 p.m. Monday behind a Chevy Malibu driven by 59-year-old Martha Beard, of Centralia, and a semi-truck 43-year-old Maximo Pina-Mendez, of Fort Worth, Texas.

As traffic began to slow for cleanup from a previous crash, Mendez and Beard began to stop.

Harlan, however, failed to stop in time and struck the rear of Beard’s car, causing it to leave the roadway to the east. Harlan’s semi then struck the rear of Mendez’ semi-truck causing significant damage to both vehicles.

Northbound lanes of I-57 were closed for several hours. Harlan and Beard were transported to out-of-state hospitals with serious injuries. Mendez and a passenger in his truck were transported to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Harlan was trapped in his truck and extensive extrication efforts were needed to free him from the wreckage.