JEFFERSON COUNTY — Illinois State Police reports have identified the semi truck driver killed in Thursday’s crash on Interstate 57 just south of the Ina exit.

49-year-old Richard Stapleton of South Haven, Miss., was unable to reduce the speed of his red semi in time to avoid a collision of a white semi driven by 28-year-old Joshua Myers of Dothan, Ala. Myers’ semi was then pushed into an orange semi driven by 58-year-old Gregory Lofton of Gray City, Georgia.

Traffic had been slowed due to another crash near milepost 59 whenever the incident occurred at 8:57 a.m. on Thursday morning.

Stapleton was pronounced dead at the scene while Myers and Lofton were transported to area hospitals. The interstate was closed for nearly 7 hours for crash investigation and cleanup.

The investigation into the crash continues.