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Icy roads blamed for one death in southern part of state

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tuesday, January 6, 2009 11:41 AM CST

COLLINSVILLE (AP) — Icy roads in southern Illinois and light snow further north have led to dozens of fender benders and at least one fatal accident.

State police in eastern Illinois say a Florida woman died in an accident Tuesday morning on Interstate 74 near Tilton, between Champaign and Danville.

Further details weren't immediately available, but police say westbound traffic was reduced to one lane.

State police in southwestern Illinois near Collinsville say icy conditions that slowed morning commutes to a crawl were blamed for at least 29 crashes in that region.

Authorities say nearly all the wrecks were on bridges, overpasses and highway ramps.

State police say two of the crashes involved motorists sliding into their cruisers.