FRANKLIN COUNTY — Illinois State Police have released the names of those involved in a Thursday afternoon fatal crash in Franklin County at mile post 65 near West Frankfort.

Police say a 2006 Freightliner, 5-axle, combination vehicle was on the right side of northbound Interstate 57, when a 2019 Ford Expedition rear-ended the semi just before 2 p.m.

The driver of the Expedition 80-year-old Magnolia G. Armstrong, and her passengers, 75-year-old Peggy J. Armstrong, 76-year-old Harold E. Armstrong and Coraleen A. Luellen as well as Helen E. Armstrong, both 78-years-old, were all pronounced dead at the scene. They were all from Memphis, Tennessee. A fifth passenger, 59-year-old Andrea E. Lesure, also of Memphis, survived the crash.

The driver of the semi, 38-year-old Dawit T. Gebermichael of Houston, TX had no passengers.

Interstate 57 northbound lanes from State Route 13 were closed for approximately four and a half hours. The investigation is continuing.