A “blowing dust warning” was issued for parts of central and south-central Illinois Monday as officials say a dust storm could be behind a large crash on Interstate 55 in the region.
Interstate 55 was shut down in both directions as police reported"multiple crashes with injuries."
Illinois State Police said troopers were responding to multiple crashes with injuries, shutting down both directions of the major highway from milepost 52 to milepost 80.Images on social media showed what appeared to be a dust storm at the time of the accident.Police urged drivers to seek alternate routes as traffic was being diverted onto a frontage road.,"a dust storm is a wall of dust and debris that is blown into an area by strong winds from thunderstorms.
"The wall of dust created by a dust storm can be miles long and several thousand feet high," the NWS website states.According to the NBC 5 Storm Team, the dust in the air could be caused by tilling, which is common during this time of year. The NWS noted, however, that Monday's alert marks the office's first blowing dust warning, though similar conditions were reported around this time of year in 2014."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," Illinois State Police Major Ryan Starrick said.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
VIDEO: `Multiple fatalities’ on I-55 after 'dust storm' causes large crash in downstate IllinoisMUST SEE VIDEO: A portion of Interstate 55 is shut down in both directions Monday afternoon after a dust storm caused a 'large crash' in south-central Illinois.
Read more »
‘Multiple fatalities’ on Illinois highway following crashes in dust stormIllinois police said there were “multiple fatalities” in a multi-vehicle pileup Monday during a dust storm on I-55 south of Springfield.
Read more »
6 people killed, dozens injured as dust storm causes major car crash in Illinois: OfficialsDEVELOPING: 'Multiple' people are dead after a dust storm caused dozens of vehicles to crash on an Illinois interstate, authorities say. More than 30 people were transported to the hospital, according to state police.
Read more »
Multiple Dead In Illinois Dust Storm Pileup | Weather.comThis is a developing story. Please check back for updates. - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com
Read more »
As Illinois dust storm blinds drivers, six die in chain-reaction crashesA dust storm that cut visibility to near zero on Monday triggered a series of chain-reaction crashes involving dozens of vehicles on an Illinois highway, killing six people and injuring at least two dozen others, state police and coroner's officials said.
Read more »
‘Multiple fatalities’ in dust storm crashes on Illinois highway, police sayA windstorm in south-central Illinois kicked up dangerous clouds of dust off farm fields Monday, blinding drivers and causing numerous crashes and “multiple fatalities” on Interstate 55, police said.
Read more »