Accident Injures Two and Closes Interstate 70 Saturday Afternoon

Two semis were involved in an accident on I-70 five miles east of Altamont that closed the interstate for much of Saturday afternoon.

At 1:20pm a semi driven by Ilir Hamo, 32, of Orland Park was traveling east on the interstate when the driver stated the front steer tires failed to respond. The semi drove through the median striking the embankment. The rig overturned and crashed into the guardrail on the north side of the westbound lanes and blocked both lanes of traffic. A second semi driven by Mohammad Ghafarri, 46, of Twin Falls Idaho, was unable to stop in time and crashed into the trailer of the Hamo semi.

Hamo was was transported by Air Evac to Carle Hospital in Urbana. Ghafarri was transported to HSHS St. Anthony's Memorial Hospital in Effingham.

Charges are pending as the accident is still under investigation by State Police.