Crashes, School Closings, Power Outage Reported Due To Black Ice

Slippery roads and black ice led to multiple crashes throughout Will County and Chicagoland on Wednesday morning, along with some school and road closings, and Illinois State Police were warning drivers to stay off the roads. School closings include:

• Troy School District 30-C
• Joliet West and Joliet Central High School
• Joliet Public School District 86 schools
• Joliet Catholic Academy
• Laraway Schools in Joliet
• Minooka School District 201 schools
• Channahon School District 17 Schools
• Holy Family School in Shorewood
• St. Joseph Elementary School in Joliet
• Romeoville Christian Academy
• St. Paul the Apostle in Joliet
• St. Raymond School in Joliet
• St. Mary Nativity in Joliet

In Plainfield Community Consolidated School District 202, schools were open, but buses were running late due to black ice on the roads, according to an alert sent to parents.

Providence Catholic High School in New Lenox was operating on a late start, with school beginning at 9:20 a.m., although the school building was set to open at 8 am. Buses were running 30-40 minutes late. Joliet Junior College also had a late start.

Find more school closings and late starts on the Emergency Closing Center website.

In Joliet, Jefferson Street was closed east of Raynor to the Des Plaines River bridge due to hazardous conditions, according to WJOL. All lanes were also closed on eastbound I-80 between I-55 and Houbolt Road due to an early morning crash.

Multiple crashes — between 20 and 30 — were reported along I-55 and I-80, prompting state police to issue a warning people to stay home unless they absolutely had to go out. "Illinois State Police are reminding motorist to use extreme caution on the roadways this morning," police said. "Drive at slower speeds and be prepared for vehicles losing control around or ahead of you. Please do not go out on the roadways unless absolutely necessary."

IDOT added, "Our crews are out treating roads but please use caution during your morning commute! ‬"

Plainfield police said they were responding to numerous crashes and vehicles in ditches, adding, "If you can delay your travel and avoid being on the road PLEASE DO." Joliet police were also reporting dozens of crashes.

In Kane County, police said one person was killed in a crash involving another vehicle and a PACE bus early Wednesday. Officials said icy road conditions contributed to the crash. Another person was killed when a car collided with a semi-trailer in Tinley Park.

In Naperville, a "Naper Notify" alert warned residents of extremely icy road conditions and a power outage in the area Washington and Gartner due to a crash. The message from the City of Naperville added, "If you are involved in a traffic accident this morning, please try to safely move your vehicle to the side of the roadway. We will be taking all non-injury accident reports at the Police Department. Exchange information with the other party. And you have ten days to file your accident report."

A winter weather advisory was in effect until noon warning of freezing drizzle and a "light glaze of ice" on roads, parking lots and sidewalks.