Five people killed in I-57 accident near Marion, Ill.

MARION, Ill. -- Five people were killed on Thanksgiving Day in an accident on Interstate 57 near Marion, state police said.

A northbound van carrying a family of four from Chicago crossed the median and struck a vehicle head-on, killing everyone in the van and the driver of the vehicle, Illinois State Police trooper Ray Minor said.

Pronounced dead at the scene were Candelario and Blanca Flores and their two young daughters, said Williamson County Coroner Mike Burke. The name of the 71-year-old Florida man who died in the other vehicle was not released Thursday night because the coroner had not notified his family.

Burke said the Flores van skidded to the shoulder and caught fire.

A third vehicle that was behind the second one also was hit. The six people in that car were treated for minor injuries at the scene, Minor said.

State police are investigating the accident, but Minor said authorities do not think alcohol was involved.

The accident, which happened around 1:50 a.m., closed the interstate for about five hours.

Marion is about 17 miles east of Carbondale.