6 killed as dust storm on Illinois interstate leads to crashes, police say

DIVERNON, Ill. — At least six people died and dozens more were injured after winds kicked up field dust on a south-central Illinois interstate on Monday, causing “complete blackout conditions” and a massive pile-up, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said.

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At least 72 vehicles were involved in the crash, including several commercial vehicles, and some caught fire, officials said. At least 37 people were injured.

37 people reported injured, police say

Update 12:10 p.m. EDT May 2: The dust storm that caused a series of crashes on Interstate 55 in Illinois injured at least 37 people, Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said Tuesday at a news conference.

The incident began just before 11 a.m. when several crashes were reported between mile markers 76 and 78 in south-central Illinois.

“This area is a very flat roadway that is surrounded by dirt farm fields and there’s very little windbreaks in that area,” Kelly said. “The fields to the west of I-55 were depositing significant field dust across I-55, causing essentially zero visibility — complete blackout conditions.”

The crashes claimed the lives of six people, with the youngest victim identified as a 2-year-old. Authorities identified one of those slain as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin, WLS-TV reported. Kelly said Tuesday that three of the victims have been tentatively identified while investigators continue working to identify two other adults who were found dead in a blue Chrysler 300 and a Hyundai.

The pile-up prompted authorities to close a stretch of I-55 for several hours. Kelly said it reopened to traffic at 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Authorities continue to investigate.

— Theresa Seiger, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

At least 6 killed in crash

Update 6:04 p.m. EDT May 1: According to the Illinois State Police, at least 6 people were killed in Monday’s crashes on Interstate 55 in central Illinois, WLS-TV reported.

At least 30 people were injured, and their conditions range from minor to life-threatening, authorities said. The victims range in age from 2 years old to 80 years old, according to the television station.

“The cause of the crash is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway leading to zero visibility,” state police said in a news release.

The highway was expected to remain closed, with cleanup continuing into Tuesday, KMOV-TV reported.

Original report: According to the Illinois State Police, at least 20 commercial vehicles and 40 to 60 cars were involved in the crashes on Interstate 55 shortly after 11 a.m. CDT, WLS-TV reported. The wrecks began on northbound lanes in Montgomery County, about 75 miles north of St. Louis, with vehicles on the southbound lanes also involved, according to the television station.

At least 30 people have been injured, Illinois State Police Capt. Ryan Starrick said. He added that there have been reports of “multiple fatalities,” and that at least two trucks had caught fire.

Wind blew dirt from nearby farms across the highway, reducing visibility, KTVI reported. The storm closed the interstate between Litchfield and Divernon, south of Springfield, according to the television station.

Nathan Cormier, a truck driver stuck in traffic, told KTVI that there appeared to be many injuries. His photos and videos of the crashes have gone viral.

“I have never seen a dust storm so bad that caused so much chaos and closed 20+ miles of highway. You could hear and feel cars exploding,” writes witness James Lewallen posted on Twitter.

The initial crash occurred near Farmersville, outside of Springfield, WMAQ-TV reported.

“Visibility in the area is reported to be low due to blowing dust,” Illinois State Police said in a statement. “Traffic is urged to seek alternate routes. This investigation is in its infancy and there is no further information at this time.”

Crashes in the northbound lanes produced heavy smoke, as several vehicles caught fire, KSDK-TV reported.

Wind gusts have been clocked at 41 mph at St. Louis Lambert International Airport and 44 mph at Spirit of St. Louis Airport in Chesterfield, Missouri, KTVI reported. Wind gusts at the Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport near Springfield reached 43 mph on Monday, according to the television station.