IL Sisters Killed In I-55 Crash Near Hamel Identified

Two Staunton sisters who were the victims of a fatal crash on Interstate 55 near Hamel late Tuesday have been identified as Madisen Bertels, 17, and Hailey Bertels, 20, both of Staunton.

The sisters were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash that occurred around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday. They were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash, Madison County Coroner said in a press release.

The sisters were in a 2010 Kia Forte four-door sedan that was struck by a tractor-trailer while travelling southbound on Interstate 55 at milepost 27.5 near Hamel, according to Nonn. Madisen Bertels was driving the vehicle, and Hailey Bertels was the backseat passenger. The crash remains under investigation by the Illinois State Police Crash Reconstruction unit.

Multiple other individuals were also injured in the eight-vehicle crash. The status of those individuals was not known as of Wednesday morning. source

Funeral arrangements remain pending at this time

Friends and family took to social media to remember the young siblings.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends at this difficult time.