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Multiple dead, more than 30 hospitalized after blowing dust leads to accidents on I-55

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…Adding… Horrible news…

* News Channel 20…

I-55 shut down Monday from milepost 63 to 80 due to a large crash involving more than 20 cars.

Police say they started receiving calls reporting the crash around 10:55 a.m. on Monday. […]

Illinois State Police say the crash involved approximately 20 commercial motor vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars.

Police say they have reports of more than 30 people being transported to the hospital and multiple fatalities.

The cause of the crash is excessive winds blowing dirt from fields across the highway, creating zero visibility.

Police say two truck-tractor semi-trailers caught on fire as a result of the crashes.

* ISP press release…

UNIT: ISP Troop 8

LOCATION: Interstate 55 near Milepost 76, north of Farmersville, Montgomery County

DATE and TIME: May 1, 2023 at approximately 10:55 a.m.

BRIEF SYNOPSIS: Preliminary information indicates the following occurred: ISP Troops 6 and 8 responded to the above area for multiple crashes with injuries. Interstate 55 is currently shut down in both directions from milepost 63 to milepost 80. Visibility in the area is reported to be low due to blowing dust. Traffic is urged to seek alternate routes.

At 10:55 a.m. there was a crash on northbound Interstate 55 at Milepost 76. At the same time, there were numerous crashes on southbound Interstate 55 at Milepost 76. Approximately 20 commercial motor vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars were involved. This includes two truck-tractor semi-trailers that caught fire as a result of the crashes.

At this time, we have reports of more than 30 people being transported to the hospital and multiple fatalities. The cause of the crash is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway leading to zero visibility.

This information is still preliminary and the ISP continues to investigate this crash. We will have more information at our next briefing at 4:30 p.m.

…Adding… More from ISP…

Injuries range from minor to life-threatening and ages range from two-years-old to 80-years-old.

Reports show there are six fatalities, all occurring in the northbound lanes. We do not have any additional information on those individuals at this time.

…Adding… Another ISP update…

At this time, 72 vehicles are reported being involved in the crash. A total of 37 people were transported to area hospitals. […]

Reports show there are six fatalities, all occurring in the northbound lanes. At this time, one decedent has been identified as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, WI. The Montgomery County Coroner’s Office is working diligently to identify the other five individuals and notify their families.

Northbound and southbound lanes remain closed. Once the interstate is cleared of all vehicles, the Illinois Department of Transportation will have to inspect the roadway before it is re-opened.

* Photos and videos from Twitter…

posted by Isabel Miller
Monday, May 1, 23 @ 3:57 pm

Comments

1. Looks almost like a train wreck with the number of trucks involved. Prayers to those injured.

   Comment by ArchPundit Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:06 pm

2. This is horrible. I wonder why there isn’t a warning system for dust storms, as there is for other dangerous weather events.

   Comment by Wensicia Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:07 pm

3. Wow those photos are nuts. I’ve never lived in a particularly rural area. How common are dust storms like that?

   Comment by Homebody Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:14 pm

4. My dad told of seeing dust clouds blow into Taylorville from the Dust Bowl out west. He thought it foolish when farmers ripped out hedgerows to plant more acres. Seems he was right.

   Comment by Last Bull Moose Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:14 pm

5. Horrific.

   The dangers of driving in blinding conditions, no matter the speed, does not take into account so many danger that being blinded can bring.

   So terrible.

   Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:15 pm

6. Hoping all my Springfield area friends are okay.

   Prayers for all those involved.

   Comment by Chicago Voter Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:17 pm

7. This is a pretty good (albeit it, sad) example of why we need to be funding conservation at higher levels for farmers. It’s conceivable that this will become the new normal moving forward.

   Comment by StealYourFace Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:18 pm

8. I travel this stretch of I-55 frequently. I’m so glad I had no need to be on the highway today. Prayers for the dead and injured.

   Comment by Teacher Lady Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:40 pm

9. Homebody

   Dust blowing over the roads is common this time of year. It’s planting season and the ground is worked in the most intensive fashion now. It’s unusual for it to be that thick that it impedes traffic. Normally you can see through it fine and ppl just slow up a bit. In this case that stretch of 55 is flat as a pancake without much of anything to slow down the wind. The wind was also almost straight out of the West. Tragic set of circumstances that exacerbated what’s usually a minor annoyance.

   It looks bad, I hope we don’t loose anymore.

   Comment by Mason born Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:51 pm

10. In regards to early warning- “Meteorologist Chris Higgins reports that a ‘Blowing Dust Warning’ was issued by the National weather Service at Lincoln Monday afternoon. He says that this is the first one of these warnings ever issues by the Springfield Office. These warnings normally pop-up in the central and southern plains during the dry season when strong winds kick up. They are very rare in Illinois.”

    https://tinyurl.com/42wzyby4

    Comment by Anon221 Monday, May 1, 23 @ 4:57 pm

11. – How common are dust storms like that?==

    In Illinois? Not very. Feels dustbowl-ish.

    Comment by Responsa Monday, May 1, 23 @ 5:04 pm

12. How horrible. My thoughts are with those involved, and the Responders who had to answer the call of duty.

    Comment by West Sider Monday, May 1, 23 @ 5:22 pm

13. Could hear the sirens and helicopters coming past while I was at the office today. I grew up in Divernon and can remember times when the field dust was so bad it would come through the drafty old windows in my house… but this is something else entirely. Perhaps farmers need to plant barrier trees or shrubs or something… Crazy series of unfortunate events or not, it would be horrible for it to ever happen again.

    Comment by Squirrel Monday, May 1, 23 @ 5:33 pm

14. Prayers for all involved, including the Troopers, EMTs and other responders, and the hospitals taking in the injured.

    I’ve been driving between St. Louis and Chicago on HWY 55 multiple times a year for about 35 years. It would never have occured to me to check for a blowing dust warning. It will now I suppose.

    Comment by Leslie K Monday, May 1, 23 @ 6:19 pm

15. Sadly, this may become more frequent. When we combine climate change with the long-term removal of most of the wind breaks that were planted back in the 1930’s, there is not much to stop the winds from picking up the soil as it blows across large expanses of open ground.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Monday, May 1, 23 @ 7:21 pm

16. Seeing this story instantly made me realize that my “tough day” was super easy relative to what people lost in this dust storm on I-55. I feel lucky too because we drove to Ohio and back over the weekend.

    Comment by Corruption Committee Monday, May 1, 23 @ 7:38 pm

17. To the many terrible updates,

    My sincere condolences to the friends and families of those who lost their lives, my prayers to the injured too, and hope their injuries are not stressed more.

    It’s heartbreaking.

    Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, May 1, 23 @ 7:44 pm

18. Prayers and condolences for all of these people. Hats off to police and fire for getting their so quick. Hospitals will be packed. Community will step up though I have no doubt

    Comment by Stormsw7706 Monday, May 1, 23 @ 7:49 pm

19. So sad this tragedy happened and prayers for all those that were affected and first responders. However, taking out hedge rows and trees to get that last row of corn/beans in has its consequences. Not to mention plowing in these conditions, it all comes down to common sense and being aware of your community. They know the wind speeds, moisture content, etc. So it is not like they didn’t know the consequences. Topsoil, much like their chemical applications, do drift and blow with the wind and weather conditions. This they know.

    Comment by Mister Ed Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 6:28 am

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