Traffic slowed on I-55 by vehicle fire

Posted on November 4, 2016

Traffic is snarled in both directions of I-55 & 74 due to a truck fire. (WJBC photo/Scott McCoy)

By Eric Stock

NORMAL – Fire crews from Normal, Bloomington and Towanda battled a fire to a large truck along Interstate 55 on Friday.

Normal Fire Department spokesman Matt Swaney said crews were called to I-55 west of Normal Community West High School at 11:59 a.m. for a report of a fully-engulfed vehicle fire.

Swaney said as of 12:30 the truck, which was hailing paper, was up against the median wall as crews knocked down the blaze, limiting traffic in both directions.

He said the driver of the truck was transported to a local hospital for what officials said were minor injuries.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year. It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city. Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University. We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk. Going to work every day for some people means…