Road conditions and fog contributed to an early-morning crash Wednesday between a semitrailer and a garbage truck that shut down a stretch of Route 23 near Marengo, McHenry County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Emily Baker said.

The sheriff’s office was dispatched about 7 a.m. to the area between River and Kishwaukee Valley roads. Drivers were asked to avoid the area, which was cleared about five hours later.

An initial investigation shows a 2016 International semitractor-trailer was traveling north on Route 23, south of Collins Road, as a 2005 MDC Environmental Services garbage truck was backing into a driveway on Route 23 to pick up a container of garbage, Baker said.

“As the semi traveled northbound, it struck the cab portion of the garbage truck that was still in the road, causing severe damage to both vehicles,” Baker said.

Two occupants in the garbage truck suffered injuries that are not life-threatening and were taken to Northwestern Medicine Huntley Hospital. The driver of the semi, its only occupant, also suffered injuries that are life-threatening and was taken to Northwestern Medicine McHenry Hospital, authorities said.

Marengo engines and ambulances from Woodstock and Huntley also responded to the call.