Multiple crashes involving over 100 vehicles took place in the southbound lanes around 3:13 p.m. near El Paso, about 50 miles east of Peoria, Illinois State Police said.
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An ABC7 sent us video showing a mangled mess of cars and semi-trucks as panicked drivers tried to find safety.
WATCH | Driver captures moments after 100-car pile-up
Raw video shows 100-car pile-up on I-39
At this point, authorities have yet to report any injuries.
Traffic is being diverted off I-39 at El Paso (Exit 14) and onto IL 251 to bypass the crash site, Illinois State Police said.
I-39 southbound will be shut down from Normal to Minonk for an extended period of time, approximately 12 hours, according to state police.
A major winter storm created treacherous travel conditions across Illinois Thursday. IDOT tweeted this video of whiteout conditions near Peoria Thursday afternoon.
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This is a breaking news story. Check back for updates.