Dust storm causes 80-car pile-up, kills 6 on Illinois highway 

At least six people died and 30 others were hospitalized after a dust storm caused more than 80 cars to crash on a major highway in Illinois on Monday, authorities said. 

The crash began at around 10:55 a.m. local time on the north and southbound lanes of I-55 after the dust from newly plowed fields took over the highway by 45 mph winds.  

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

The car pile-up involving 40 to 60 passenger vehicles and at least 30 commercial vehicles continued for a 2-mile stretch. Two semi trucks and other cars caught on fire as a result of the accidents. The six deaths reported were all found in the highway’s northbound lanes.  

At least 30 people were injured from the wrecks and transported to Hospital Sisters Health System hospitals, with injuries ranging from life-threatening to minor, said Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick. The age of those injured ranged from 2 to 80 years old. Four others were taken to Springfield Memorial Hospital, said hospital spokesperson Anne Davis. 

Authorities are investigating the accident and have closed down the interstate in southern Sangamon and northern Montgomery counties until the vehicles are cleared. 

“The deciding factor today was the tilled fields,” said CNN meteorologist Chad Myers. “This was a localized event by localized conditions.”

Pictures and videos from the scene uploaded onto social media show a yellow haze in the air among the cars on the highway, leading to almost zero visibility. 

🚨#UPDATE: Illinois interstate 55 pileup here’s what we know
- Occurred shortly before 1:00pm CST
- Dust storm reported in area shortly before crash
- 100+ vehicles involved
- 5+ fatalities reported
- Dozens injured
- Emergency crews now searching
- Multiple medical helicopters… pic.twitter.com/ctrklJVGqU

— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) May 1, 2023

First responders had a difficult time responding to the scene because of the thick dust, adding that the dust was also getting into everyone’s eyes, making it hard to see. 

“This is a difficult scene, something that is very hard to train for, something that we really haven’t experienced locally,” said the director of Montgomery County’s Emergency Management Agency, Kevin Schott.

Multiple fatalities have been reported after a dust storm caused at least 40 to 60 cars to crash along a major highway in Central Illinois on Monday, officials said. The crashes along I-55 led to the interstate closing in Sangamon and Montgomery counties. pic.twitter.com/qeJG3aRWCh

— Sajjad (@Sajjad57678616) May 1, 2023