SOUTHERN ILLINOIS — An early season snowstorm dumped up to 6 inches of snow in parts of southwestern and central Illinois Wednesday night and into Thursday, causing widespread school closures and some traffic snarls.

The heaviest Illinois snowfall totals reaching half a foot in spots were reported in a band from the St. Louis area to around Springfield. Up to 3 inches of snow had fallen by Thursday morning in the Peoria and Carbondale areas. The Chicago area had about an inch of snow.

Police say electricity was knocked out in Lebanon when a vehicle crashed into a utility pole early Thursday.

Locally, weather related crashes sent at least five people to area hospitals for treatment of injuries.

According to the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, 18-year-old Charles Guardiaan, of Centralia, was taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment of injuries he suffered in a crash Wednesday night on Airport Road.

Guardian was reportedly driving on Airport Road just east of Calumet when his vehicle slid off the road and into a ditch.

In another Wednesday night crash in Marion County, 21-year-old Johnny Baker, of rural Vandalia was driving on U.S. Highway 51 when he lost control of his SUV on a slick patch of road just south of Bethel Road in Sandoval.

Baker’s vehicle reportedly slid off the road went down an embankment and struck a tree.

He was uninjured but three passengers 45-year-old Jeffrey Forbes, of Shobonier, 35-year-old Amanda Coles, and 14-year-old Shaelynn Cole, both of Vandalia, suffered injuries and were taken to the hospital in Centralia for treatment.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reports a single-vehicle crash Thursday morning on Dix-Irvington Road was weather related.

According to reports, 19-year-old Calysta Guard, of Dix, was driving on Dix-Irvington Road when her vehicle slid off the road and down an embankment.

Guard was taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital for treatment of minor injurie