Faye Rautio often complained there was not enough time for her and her husband, Donald, to visit all their friends, who were scattered across the country.

It became apparent how many of those friends cared about the Florida couple as their sons received an outpouring of support following a fiery traffic crash Wednesday on Interstate 39 that claimed both their lives, as well as a 21-year-old Rockford woman.

"I know what they're taking with them is they had so many friends," the couple's son, Adam, told The Times.

Adam described his father as a sports enthusiast who played softball and golf, while his mother was friendly and energetic.

"Mom was a dynamo of energy who had friends all over the country," he said.

The couple, who Adam said were "snowbirds," had spent a month in their home state of Minnesota, visiting their two sons for the holidays.

They got on the road early Wednesday morning and started their trek home to their hometown of The Villages, which is north of Orlando.

The couple had lived there four years.

Shortly before 1:30 p.m., they were in one of seven vehicles, including two semi-trailers, involved in the deadly traffic crash on Interstate 39 just north of U.S. 6.

La Salle County Coroner Jody Bernard confirmed three people died, including Donald, 67, and Faye, 65. This afternoon, Bernard confirmed Caryn J. Casey, 21, of Rockford, who was in another vehicle, also died at the scene.

Illinois State Police District 17 released a preliminary report this afternoon of the seven-vehicle accident.

At 1:18 p.m. Wednesday, the seven vehicles were traveling south on Interstate 39, just north of U.S. 6, approaching a construction zone.

William A. Hinds, 42, of Springfield, said he had fallen asleep behind the wheel and his semitrailer slammed into the rear of a Ford Explorer driven by Michael H. Swiersz, 51, of Danville.

Swiersz said he observed Hinds not slowing for the construction zone and attempted to avoid the collision by driving into the median when his vehicle was struck in the rear.

The impact pushed Swiersz's vehicle off the road, down into the median and it overturned. Hinds continued south and struck a Toyota Camry driven by Donald Rautio, and the Camry was forced into a Ford Taurus driven by Casey, who was attempting to merge into the right lane.

Hinds' and Casey's vehicles burst into flames as they struck the rear trailer of a semitrailer driven by Roberto Barragan, 56, of Savanna, who was hauling 45,000 pounds of potatoes. Barragan then struck the rear of a Dodge Caravan driven by Michael L. Weaver Kaufman, 36, of St. Louis, Mo., pushing the Caravan into the rear cargo trailer attached to a Ford F350 driven by Rachel M. Chleborowicz, 39, Machesney Park.

Hinds' and Casey's vehicles continued, on fire, into the median where they came to a rest.

Three people, Swiersz, Julie Swiersz, 13, and Ronald McDaniel, 67, who were all in the same vehicle, were taken to Illinois Valley Community Hospital.

Four people, Weaver Kaufman, and Michelle Kaufman, 34, Abby Kaufman, 5, and Zach Kaufman, 3, were taken to Community Hospital of Ottawa.

The accident remains under investigation.

Shortly before 2 p.m., Interstate 39 was closed between U.S. 6 and Interstate 80 for several hours.

Emergency crews fought thick black smoke billowing from the two semitrailers, one of which was charred with large gaping holes. That cab, facing south, had been pulling the trailer full of potatoes.

The second semitrailer was in the center median with its cab missing.

Adam Rautio said authorities confirmed his parents' 20-pound dog, in the car at the time of the accident, survived the crash and is staying with a local family until a Rautio family member can retrieve it.

After the crash, dozens of motorists parked along the Troy Grove blacktop, which runs parallel to the interstate. Some of the passersby were taking photos, while others discussed what might have happened. It appeared none of the onlookers witnessed the crash.

One woman at the scene said she heard the explosion at Peru Mall. Others reported hearing the explosion and seeing the thick black smoke as far away as Deer Park Township.

Motorists northbound on Interstate 39 were detoured onto U.S. 6. Southbound traffic also was backed up, with motorists exiting onto Interstate 80, which is one mile north of the crash site. Traffic on Interstate 80 also was backed up, and many drivers were exiting onto Route 178, causing back-ups at the intersection with U.S. 6.

Police were directing traffic at both Interstate 39 and Route 178. All lanes of I-39 remained closed for several hours.