According to the Missouri Highway Patrol, both southbound and northbound lanes were closed by the crash on Interstate 57.
According to the Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred at 8 a.m. Officials are investigating whether fog conditions played any role in the crash.
According to the Mississippi County Coroner’s Office, six people were killed in Thursday’s crash. However, the death toll was lowered to five on Friday.
The Mississippi County Sheriff’s Office released a statement saying that they asked for traffic to be diverted to the area to allow emergency personnel to enter. “Our thoughts, prayers and condolences go out to the families affected by this horrible incident.”
It is not known how many people were hurt. Interstate 57 between Charleston, Missouri and the Illinois state line was closed for at least 13 miles.
According to the sheriff’s office, patients were sent to at most three hospitals in the region, as well as 12 ambulances and 2 air ambulances.