UPDATE: Arkansas Teen Killed in One of Two Accidents on I-70 Friday

An Arkansas teen is dead after a rear-end collision Friday evening on Interstate 70, one of two accidents that had the highway backed up for many hours.

The second (fatal) crash happened near mile post 87, about five miles east of Altamont. Illinois State Police say a vehicle driven by 49-year old Ralph Randall of Lowell, Arkansas failed to reduce speed as he approached the first accident scene, rear ending a semi driven by 60-year old Carlos Gomez of Grand Prairie, Texas.

A preliminary accident report shows Randall attempted to swerve around Gomez, but ended up striking the rear of the semi trailer, pinning his vehicle underneath it.

Both Randall and a passenger, 18-year old Mariah D. Prather of Springdale, Arkansas, had to be extricated from the vehicle. Both were taken to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital. Prather was pronounced dead shortly after.

Gomez, and a passenger in his semi, 62-year old Katherine Gomez, were not injured.

Details on the first crash, which happened mid-afternoon Friday just east of the rest area between Altamont and Effingham, have not been released. A photo sent to us by a listener Friday evening indicates what we recorded when police were dispatched; a semi had flipped over and spilled some of its load, with eastbound traffic between Altamont and Effingham down to one lane.

Crews work to remove debris from the first crash on I-70 Friday afternoon

Interstate 70 eastbound was closed until just after midnight Saturday morning. Traffic was re-routed onto US Route 40 from Altamont to Effingham.