Severe Storms in Southern Illinois Cut Power, Cause Injuries, Cancel Commencement

Injuries are being reported in southern Illinois in the wake of thunderstorms that packed 100-mph winds that moved across the area Friday.

Health officials say a truck driver who had to be extricated from an overturned semitrailer was in serious condition at a local hospital.

Rosslynd Rice of Southern Illinois Healthcare says about six other patients with minor injuries were being treated at the Memorial Hospital of Carbondale.

Carbondale Township Fire Captain Mark Black says trees are down and siding from homes is strewn everywhere. He says his firefighters are cutting trees out of the roadway so they can get their trucks out.

The storms forced the cancellation of some commencement ceremonies Friday at Southern Illinois University's Carbondale campus.

University spokesman Rod Sievers says power is out, hundreds of trees are down and many dorm windows are broken. But there were no injuries on .

Sievers says if power returns, commencement ceremonies scheduled for Saturday will go on as planned.

It's finals week at SIU-Carbondale, and many students have left campus because they were finished with tests.

More than 33,000 Ameren customers are without power, mostly around Carbondale, Marion and Herrin.