The Southern

Illinois State Police in Ullin are investigating a three-vehicle collision that occurred about 3:29 a.m. Tuesday on Interstate 24 in Massac County.

A preliminary investigation revealed the accident was caused by ice on the roadway, police said.

A semitrailer westbound in the passing lane failed to slow for traffic stopped for near Mile Post 3. That traffic had stopped for an earlier accident.

The westbound semi driver sideswiped a jeep and then sideswiped a second vehicle, a Freightliner hauling another trailer.

The westbound semitrailer came to rest on its side, covering all lanes of Illinois 24 westbound and spilling its load. Troopers said in a news release that the load included cosmetics, wood flooring, and three 55 gallon drums of liquid potassium hydroxide, a type of caustic acid.

The second semitrailer also veered off the roadway into a ditch, spilling a load of non-hazardous materials.

It could not be determined immediately following the crash whether or not the containers of hydroxide had been ruptured, police said.

Te westbound lanes of the highway were closed to traffic and travelers were diverted to other roadways.

Freeman Environmental Services was dispatched to the scene to clean up any hazardous materials. The vehicles were towed from the scene about 10:55 a.m.

The driver of the semi trailer carrying the hydroxide suffered serious injuries. The driver of the second semitrailer also was injured, although police did not list the severity of those injuries. The driver of the jeep was uninjured.

Names and ticket information were withheld pending further investigation.