40-car crash blocks I-294 in Illinois

Illinois State Police have confirmed a multiple-vehicle crash has shut down three of the four southbound lanes of Interstate 294 near Hickory Hills.

An official reported that "numerous" cars were involved in the accident, but have not released an exact number. NBC Chicago reported that 40 to 50 vehicles may have been involved in the pileup.

Officers believe that the incident was due to black ice and have reopened two of the three closed lanes. Traffic flow will remain slow into the afternoon while snow plows salt the pavement.

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