Dust storm Illinois - live: At least six dead in I-55 pile-up of up to 80 cars during sudden storm

At least six people died in a sprawling multi-car accident on I-55 outside of Springfield, Illinois, according to Illinois police.

The massive pile-up, involving an estimated 80 cars, occurred during a dust storm with low visibility.

More than 30 people were taken to nearby hospitals. The injuries range from minor to life-threatening, and those hurt are two to 80 years old, reported WLS.

One of the six people who died in the accident was identified as Shirley Harley, 88, of Franklin, Wisconsin, said authorities.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s office is working to identify the five others and notify their families.

At the time, winds were blowing between 35 and 45 mph, according to The Weather Channel.

I-55 remains shut down in both directions near Sangamon and Montgomery counties, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation.

The Auburn Travel Center in Divernon is being used as a reunification spot for travellers and families of people who were involved in the crash, according to state police.

Key Points

• ‘Multiple fatalities’ in vehicle pileup caused by dust storm on I-55 in Illinois

At least six dead in crash after dust storm

04:08 , Namita Singh

A windstorm in central Illinois kicked up dangerous clouds of blinding dust off farm fields today, causing numerous crashes that killed at least six people on Interstate 55, police said.

The late morning crashes involved 40-60 cars and multiple tractor-trailers, two of which caught fire, Illinois state police major Ryan Starrick said.

He said at least six people died, all in the northbound lanes, and more than 30 people on both sides of I-55 were transported to hospitals with injuries.

“The only thing you could hear after we got hit was crash after crash after crash behind us,” said Tom Thomas, 43, who was traveling south to St Louis.I-55 was shut down in both directions in Montgomery County, 75 miles north of St Louis, and likely won’t reopen until tomorrow.

Mr Starrick told reporters that it was a spring version of a “whiteout situation” typically seen in winter snowstorms. Governor JB Pritzker described the scene as “horrific”.

“The cause of the crashes is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway, leading to zero visibility,” Mr Starrick said.

Truck driver posts pictures of weather conditions

07:56 , Graeme Massie

Governor JB Pritzker monitoring 'horrific situation’

07:33 , Namita Singh

Illinois governor JB Pritzker has issued a statement in the aftermath of the pile-up on I-55 saying he is “closely monitoring the horrific situation at the Macoupin and Sangamon County line”.

“My team is in constant communication with the Illinois State Police, Department of Transportation and Emergency Management Agency to ensure the safety of motorists as they navigate dangerous situation,” he tweeted.

“On the ground, our first responders and emergency management teams are working diligently to clear the road, provide medical care to those in need and collaborate with local officials to provide support to everyone affected by this tragic accident.”

Dust storm ‘not uncommon’

06:41 , Namita Singh

The dust storm from tilling “not uncommon” during this time of year, said state police.

“This has happened before in various parts of the state of the Illinois, where unfortunately due to excessive high winds, that once the farmers have turned the field, the topsoil or the dirt that’s on top there gets loose,” said Illinois state police major Ryan Starrick.

“It’s extremely dry, and due to the excessive winds of the area, will blow across certain roadways.”

A “blowing dust warning” was issued for some counties in the area with it remaining in effect in Sangamon, Christian and Shelby counties, reported NBC Chicago.

Illinois lawmaker ‘heartbroken’ at fatal I-55 crash

06:10 , Graeme Massie

Rep Nikki Budzinski took to Twitter to express her condolences at the loss of life in shocking incident.

Top police official expresses condolences to aggrieved families

06:02 , Namita Singh

Top police official expressed his condolences to the aggrieved families.

“My heart goes out to the families,” llinois state police major Ryan Starrick Starrick said.

“My heart goes out to anybody that found themselves involved in this particular situation. It sounds like due to the low visibility, the high winds, everything just came together, unfortunately, on this particular stretch of I-55.

“My heart goes out to them.”

Interstate 55 to remain closed until Tuesday

05:43 , Namita Singh

The interstate will remain closed until tomorrow as the crews work to remove vehicles from the crash site.

While the collision initially happened at the northbound lanes of I-55, it soon followed in the southbound lanes with two semi-trucks catching fire, reported NBC News.

88-year-old traffic pileup victim identified

05:04 , Namita Singh

One of the six people who died in the accident following a windstorm in central Illinois has been identified as Shirley Harley, 88, of Franklin, Wisconsin, said authorities.

The Montgomery County Coroner’s office is working to identify the five others and notify their families.

‘We had to search every vehicle,’ says Montgomery County emergency services director

04:39 , Namita Singh

Kevin Schott, director of emergency services in Montgomery County, said it was a “very difficult scene” and one that’s “very hard to train for.”

“We had to search every vehicle, whether they were involved in the accident or just pulled over, to check for injuries,” he said, adding that people were “upset — visibly so, understandably so.”

Authorities set up staging areas away from the crash site to help travelers reunite with friends and family.

‘You couldn’t even see’, says witness of massive highway pileup

04:38 , Namita Singh

Evan Anderson, 25, who was returning home to St Louis from Chicago, said a semi turned before striking his vehicle, sparing him from even more damage.“You couldn’t even see,” Mr Anderson said.

“People tried to slow down and other people didn’t, and I just got plowed into. There were just so many cars and semitrucks with so much momentum behind them.”

Dairon Socarras Quintero, 32, who was driving to St Louis to make deliveries for his custom frame company based in Elk Grove Village, said that after his truck hit the vehicle in front of him, he exited and moved to the side of the road to ensure his safety, then returned after the chain reaction of crashes ended behind him.

Mr Socarras Quintero said the dust continued to blow ferociously as he checked on other motorists and emergency personnel arrived. He held up his backpack, which was caked with dust even though it was inside a closed truck cab.

Winds at the time were gusting between 35 mph (56 kph) and 45 mph (74 kph), the National Weather Service said.

‘Multiple fatalities’ in vehicle pileup caused by dust storm on I-55 in Illinois

04:05 , Graeme Massie

A massive dust storm caused several vehicle pileups on Interstate 55 south of Springfield, Illinois leading to multiple fatalities, according to police.

The multiple crashes occurred on Monday (1 May) at mile marker 76 on I-55 in both the northbound and southbound direction, Illinois State Police said in a press conference posted to Facebook.

Illinois State Police said I-55 I-55 is shut down from mile marker 52 until 80 in both directions as they work “a large crash.”

They urged motorists to take an alternative route as traffic was being diverted onto the frontage road.

Ariana Baio is following the details for The Independent.

‘Multiple fatalities’ in vehicle pileup caused by dust storm on I-55 in Illinois

Dust storm causes ‘numerous crashes’ on I-55

02:02 , Graeme Massie

A dust storm in central Illinois has caused “numerous crashes” along I-55, according to state officials.

Pictures of the scene showed clouds of smoke and numerous burnt-out cars.

Scenes from I-55 dust storm crash

Tuesday 2 May 2023 00:29 , Graeme Massie

Illinois governor monitoring ‘horrific situation'

Monday 1 May 2023 23:49 , Graeme Massie

“My team is in constant communication with the Illinois State Police, Department of Transportation and Emergency Management Agency to ensure the safety of motorists as they navigate dangerous conditions,” said Illinois Gov J B Pritzker.

“On the ground, our first responders and emergency management teams are working diligently to clear the road, provide medical care to those in need and collaborate with local officials to provide support to everyone affected by this tragic accident.”

Officials say at least six killed in dust storm crash

Monday 1 May 2023 23:07 , Graeme Massie

At least six people were killed in a massive wreck on I-55 caused by a dust storm in Illinois, according to officials.

The injuries range from minor to life-threatening, and those hurt are 2 to 80 years old, reported WLS.

I-55 to remain closed until Tuesday

Monday 1 May 2023 22:46 , Graeme Massie

Illinois State Police officials say that I-55 will be closed until late morning or early afternoon on Tuesday.

“Interstate 55 in southern Sangamon and northern Montgomery counties remains closed in both directions because of numerous crashes caused by a dust storm, which has greatly reduced visibility. I-55 traffic is being detoured via Illinois 104 and Illinois 48 through Taylorville,” the Illinois Department of Transportation said on Twitter.

What is to blame for crash conditions?

Monday 1 May 2023 22:23 , Graeme Massie

“Be careful while driving on I-55 in northern Montgomery County IL. Combination of newly plowed fields & gusty northwest winds is generating a dust storm in this area,” tweeted the National Weather Service St Louis.

Authorities establish reunification spot

Monday 1 May 2023 22:14 , Graeme Massie

The Auburn Travel Center in Divernon is being used as a reunification spot for travellers and families of people who were involved in the crash, according to state police.

“To keep travellers coming from the north side to reunite with loved ones safe, the Auburn Travel Center has been set up as a reunification point. Located at 329 IL Route 104, Divernon, IL, this is for reunification only,” Illinois State Police said.

Over 30 taken to hospital, police say

Monday 1 May 2023 21:44 , Josh Marcus

More than 30 people were taken to the hospital after a massive multi-car pile-up occured on I-55 in downstate Illinois during a dust storm, according to Illinois State Police Major Ryan Starrick, who spoke at a press conference on Monday.