05/01/2023
OVER 30 INJURED, AT LEAST 6 DEAD IN INTERSTATE 55 CRASHES DURING DUST STORM
Illinois State Police said incident began just before 11 a.m.
SANGAMON COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- Over 30 people were injured and at least six are dead after a number of crashes during a dust storm on Interstate 55 downstate Monday, officials said.
At least 30 commercial vehicles and 40 to 60 cars were involved in the crashes just before 11 a.m. They started on the northbound side, and some eventually took place on the southbound side, as well, along a 2-mile stretch, Illinois State Police said.
So far, all six deaths took place in the northbound lanes, police said.
Illinois State Police said troopers responded to I-55 near mile post 76 in Montgomery County for multiple crashes with injuries, due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway.
The injuries range from minor to life-threatening, and those hurt are 2 to 80 years old.
Two semitrailers caught fire. There were also reports of an explosion.
The highway is shut down in both directions from mile post 63 to 80, ISP said.
Visibility is low due to blowing freshly plowed field soil.
The Illinois Department of Transportation tweeted just after 11:15 a.m. that I-55 was closed in both directions between Divernon and Farmersville, Illinois in Sangamon and Montgomery counties.
Video footage credit: Syncmedia24