TEUTOPOLIS, Ill. — Illinois State Police have reportedly identified the driver of the vehicle believed to be involved in the tanker truck crash that left five dead and five others injured Friday in Effingham County, Illinois.
The investigation remains ongoing, but authorities thanked the public for their assistance so far.
“Thank you to the communities of Montrose and Teutopolis, and everyone who provided information to ISP,” said ISP Director Brendan F. Kelly. “The information we received from the community has been instrumental in identifying the vehicle and driver believed to be involved in this case.”
The truck was carrying hazardous chemicals when it jackknifed at about 8:40 p.m. Friday on eastbound U.S. Highway 40, just outside of Teutopolis. The tank then hit the trailer hitch of another vehicle, punching a hole in the chemical container and releasing roughly half of the truck's 7,500-gallon load of anhydrous ammonia.
Residents within a 1-mile radius of the crash were evacuated.
A National Transportation Safety Board official said the deadly crash may have started when another vehicle tried to pass the chemical-lad truck.
Initial investigation showed a dark-colored vehicle potentially involved in the incident traveling at about 8:35 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 40 and Spring Creek Road in Montrose.
WATCH | Surveillance video shows suspect car in deadly tanker truck crash:
The vehicle, of an unknown make and model, continued westbound through Teutopolis and would have passed the tanker truck, according to ISP.
As of Tuesday morning, ISP agents were actively retrieving surveillance video in Casey, Montrose and Teutopolis that could provide more information into the deadly crash.
Anyone with doorbell or security cameras that may have captured video of the suspect vehicle before or after the crash was asked to contact the Illinois State Police Division of Criminal Investigation Zone 8 Investigations at 217-342-7881.
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