The Following Preliminary Information is Being Released by Illinois State Police
District 10

WHAT: Two Unit Personal Injury Traffic Crash
WHERE: Interstate 57 northbound near Milepost 234, Champaign County
WHEN: Jan. 20, 2021 at approximately 5:13 a.m.
VEHICLE: Unit 1- 2005 Blue Freightliner
Unit 2- 2012 Black Freightliner
DRIVER: Unit 1- Jara Abdusalam, 23-year-old male of Coon Rapids, MN
(Transported to a local area hospital with injuries)
Unit 2- Joseph Smith, 59-year-old male of West Helen, AR (Transported
to a local area hospital with injuries)
PRELIMINARY: Preliminary investigation indicates the following occurred: Units 1,2 were
traveling northbound on Interstate 57 near Milepost 234 in the right lane.
Unit 1 struck Unit 2 in the rear. Units 1 and 2 were disabled as a result of
the accident and blocked the right lane. The right lane was blocked for
several hours due to cleanup.
CHARGES: None