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Illinois dust storm: Several dead after nearly 60 vehicles collide on I-55 due to 'low visibility'

Winds were blowing between 35 and 45 mph at the time of the collision

SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS: A large pileup on Interstate 55 south of Springfield, Illinois, caused by a sudden dust storm on Monday is said to have resulted in multiple fatalities. There were a lot of injuries caused by the collision which involved between 40 and 60 cars reports said.

Winds were blowing between 35 and 45 mph at the time of the collision which decreased visibility and created risky driving conditions. I-55 south of Springfield was the scene of the pile-up which caused a roughly 30-mile-long closure of both lanes of interstate traffic.

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Illinois State Police Maj Ryan Starrick, as per ABC News, said during an afternoon press conference that he did not have an official death toll but said more than 30 people were transported to the hospital. The interstate is shut down from mile marker 52 to mile marker 80 in both directions and the interstate would be closed until at least tomorrow.

"I saw the smoke cloud from a distance and I've driven through them before, you know, you put your hazards on, go slow," N​athan Cormier told Weather Channel. "And I moved to the left lane to get away out from behind a semi. And that's when I came across everything else stopped in the road.” ​Cormier described the scene as a "dust bowl." 

Illinois Department of Transportation tweeted, "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." The Illinois state police troop said, "Approximately 20 commercial motor vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars were involved." Also, two truck tractor semi-trailers caught fire as a result of the crashes.

The crash took place at 11 am local time in Montogomery County. Authorities were still conducting additional searches through the vehicles involved, which included an estimated 20 commercial vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars as per NBC. "At this time, we have reports of more than 30 people being transported to the hospital and multiple fatalities," the Law Enforcement officials said. They added, "The cause of the crash is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway leading to zero visibility." However, as per the police, "the information is still preliminary and the ISP continues to investigate this crash."