EFFINGHAM COUNTY — Six people were injured Monday night when two semis collided on Interstate 57 near Effingham.

According to the Illinois State Police, around 10:48 p.m. Monday, a semi driven by 33-year-old Christopher Elliott, of Houston, Texas, failed to slow and rear-ended a semi being driven by 59-year-old Ramon Lopez, of Loredo, Texas.

Both Elliott and Lopez were injured, as were three passengers in Elliott’s rig and one passenger in Lopez’s semi. All were from either Houston or Loredo. All six were taken to HSHS St. Anthony’s Memorial Hospital in Effingham for treatment.

Elliott was cited for failure to reduce speed to avoid the crash. The right two lanes of southbound I-57 were closed for more than an hour.