Blowing dust triggers crashes with ‘multiple fatalities’ on Interstate 55

Belleville News-Democrat
·2 min read
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“Multiple fatalities” and numerous injuries were reported in traffic crashes along Interstate 55 near Litchfield Monday morning.

Heavy winds that blew through the St. Louis region kicked up dust from nearby farmers fields, reducing visibility on the highway to near zero, Illinois State Police said in a release. At least 30 people were transported to hospitals with injuries, it stated.

Interstate 55 was shut down in both directions from milepost 63 to milepost 80 in Divernon, just south of Springfield. It likely will remain closed through Tuesday morning, said State Police Major Ryan Starrick.

At 10:55 a.m. there was a crash on northbound Interstate 55 at Milepost 76. At the same time, there were numerous crashes on southbound Interstate 55 at Milepost 76, state police reported.

Approximately 20 commercial motor vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars were involved. This includes two truck-tractor semi-trailers that caught fire as a result of the crashes. Blowing smoke further contributed to the reduced visibility.

“The cause of the crashes is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway, leading to zero visibility,” State Police Major Ryan Starrick said at a news conference. He reported that there were “multiple fatalities” but did not give an exact number, saying that would be released later in the day.

Starrick said such blinding duststorms have happened before on Illinois roads “where unfortunately you have excessively high winds” that blow the topsoil from fields. Farmers are currently busy planting fields across Illinois and the Midwest region.

“Visibility in the area is reported to be low due to blowing dust,” Illinois State Police said earlier in a statement. “Traffic is urged to seek alternate routes.”

State police did a second search for additional vehicles that may have been involved.

“My team and I are closely following the devastating crash on I-55 as authorities learn more,” said Rep. Nikki Budzinski on Twitter. “Please be safe as this situation continues to unfold.”