I-43 southbound reopens after crash had forced lane closures north of Silver Spring

Southbound I-43 has been reopened after being closed for several hours because of a crash, authorities said.

Two people were seriously injured Monday when the vehicle they were in drove off the freeway southbound north of West Hampton Avenue and struck a tree at the Lincoln Park Golf Course, authorities said.

The single-vehicle crash occurred shortly after 2:15 p.m. Authorities eventually closed all lanes of I-43 southbound at Silver Spring Drive and traffic was  diverted off the freeway.

Flight-for-Life was called to the scene and took one of the injured to a hospital. At least one person had to be extricated from the vehicle.

Traffic was backed up for miles on I-43 southbound north of West Hampton Avenue for several hours.

All lanes were reopened about 7:30 p.m., Department of Transportation said