Updated Tuesday at 9:20 a.m.
DIVERNON, Ill. — An interstate highway in Illinois reopened Tuesday after a windstorm that kicked up clouds of blinding dust from farm fields and led to crashes that killed at least six people and injured dozens more, police said.
More than 70 vehicles, including dozens of commercial vehicles and passenger cars, were involved in crashes late Monday morning along a 2-mile stretch of Interstate 55 in Montgomery County, 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of St. Louis. The highway was closed in both directions after the crashes, but northbound and southbound lanes reopened around 6 a.m. Tuesday, Illinois State Police said.
The crashes involved 40 to 60 cars, along with tractor-trailers, two of which caught fire, Maj. Ryan Starrick said. The six people who died were all in northbound lanes, while 37 people on both sides of I-55 were taken to hospitals.
Those hurt in the crash range in age from 2 to 80 and have injuries from minor to life-threatening, police said. One of the six people killed was Shirley Harper, 88, of Franklin, Wisconsin. Efforts to identify the five others continued.
Starrick told reporters that Monday’s wind-driven dust storm was a spring version of a “whiteout situation” typically seen in winter snowstorms. Gov. J.B. Pritzker described the scene as “horrific.”
“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.
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, then returned after the chain reaction of crashes ended behind him.
Socarras Quintero said the dust continued to blow ferociously as he checked on other motorists and emergency crews arrived. He held up his backpack, caked with dust even though it was inside a closed truck cab.
Winds at the time were gusting between 35 and 45 mph (56 and 74 kph), the National Weather Service said.
“It’s very flat, very few trees,” meteorologist Chuck Schaffer said. “It’s been very dry across this area, really, for the last three weeks. The farmers are out there tilling their fields and planting. The top layer of soil is quite loose.”
Evan Anderson, 25, who was returning home to St. Louis from Chicago, said a semi turned before striking his vehicle, sparing him even more damage.
“You couldn’t even see,” 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.”
Authorities set up staging areas away from the crash site to help travelers reunite with friends and relatives.
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Associated Press reporters Rick Callahan in Indianapolis and Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report.
Interstate 55 around milepost 76, both northbound and southbound, opened around 6 a.m. today after being closed due to massive crashes due to zero visibility conditions caused by blowing dust.
— IllinoisStatePolice (@ILStatePolice) May 2, 2023
ISP has set up a phone number for people involved in Monday's crash on I-55 near milepost 76. If you have information or questions call 618-346-3653. pic.twitter.com/4UcZcIowGd
— IllinoisStatePolice (@ILStatePolice) May 2, 2023
Updated Monday at 10:30 p.m.
DIVERNON, Ill. — A windstorm in south-central Illinois led to numerous crashes and six fatalities Monday on Interstate 55, police said.
The crashes occurred late Monday morning amid windblown dust and involved a total of 72 vehicles, including 40 to 60 passenger cars and multiple tractor-trailers, Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick said. The highway was shut down in both directions in Montgomery County, 75 miles (120.7 kilometers) north of St. Louis.
37 people were transported to hospitals with injuries, Starrick said. The crashes occurred in both the southbound and the northbound lanes.
State Police confirmed at a late afternoon news conference that six people had been killed in the crashes. All of the deaths occurred in the northbound lanes. One of the victims was identified as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin. State Police say the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office was “working diligently” to identify the other victims and notify their families.
Maj. Starrick says it was an emotional day.
“My heart goes out to the families,” said Starrick. “My heart goes out to anyone who found themselves involved in this. It sounds like due to the low visibility, the high winds, everything just came together, unfortunately. “
Starrick said that said I-55 would be closed until late morning or early afternoon Tuesday.
“Visibility in the area is reported to be low due to blowing dust,” Illinois State Police said earlier Monday in a statement. “Traffic is urged to seek alternate routes. This investigation is in its infancy and there is no further information at this time.”
The Auburn Travel Center in Divernon was established as a reunification spot for travelers.
(Additional reporting by Illinois Public Radio)
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. (photo via @wics_abc20) pic.twitter.com/rYbWKndJa6
— IDOT_Illinois (@IDOT_Illinois) May 1, 2023
Blowing dust causing a multiple car pile up on I-55 between Divernon and Farmersville. Visibility less than a quarter of a mile. Visibility can become zero at times. If you encounter blowing dust on the roadway or see it approaching, pull off the road as far as possible. #ilwx pic.twitter.com/8NS4zT76zg
— NWS Lincoln IL (@NWSLincolnIL) May 1, 2023
