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* An update…
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
* Illinois State Police…
Preliminary information indicates the following occurred: ISP Troops 6 and 8 responded to the above area for multiple crashes with injuries. 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. The crashes occurred within a two-mile stretch – from roughly Milepost 76 to Milepost 78.
At this time, 72 vehicles are reported being involved in the crash. A total of 37 people were transported to area hospitals. Injuries range from minor to life-threatening and ages span from 2-years-old to 80-years-old.
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.
The ISP is planning a press conference for 9:30 this morning.
* AP…
“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. […]
Starrick told reporters that it was a spring version of a “whiteout situation” typically seen in winter snowstorms. Gov. J.B. Pritzker described the scene as “horrific.” […]
Kevin Schott, director of emergency services in Montgomery County, said it was a “very difficult scene” and one that’s “very hard to train for.”
“We had to search every vehicle, whether they were involved in the accident or just pulled over, to check for injuries,” he said, adding that people were “upset — visibly so, understandably so.”
* NYT…
Although dust storms can occur anywhere in the United States, they are most common in the Southwest, according to the National Weather Service. They rarely occur in central Illinois, Ben Deubelbeiss, a meteorologist with the service, said.
But a dry spell, combined with very strong winds, had created Monday’s conditions, Mr. Deubelbeiss added, noting that the Springfield airport — about 30 miles north of the crash site — had recorded just half of its usual rainfall for the month of April. Wind gusts at the airport were blowing up to 40 miles per hour on Monday, he added.
The Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency said 10 helicopters were requested to the scene and buses from Panhandle School District were picking up stranded motorists.
The Auburn Travel Center in Divernon was established as a reunification spot for travelers.
The Springfield Fire Department sent several trucks and engines to the scene via a mutual aid call, Chief Brandon Blough confirmed and a Hazardous Materials Team from SFD was dealing with a tanker fire, doing fire suppression and damming and docking of hazardous material run-off. […]
Sangamon County Sheriff Jack Campbell said deputies were assisting ISP on detours off the interstate in the southern part of the county.
* This has happened here before, but the results were not nearly as horrific. From 2017…
Dust storms causing poor visibility in central Illinois are being blamed for car accidents that killed two people.
Illinois State Police say visibility was poor when a 53-year-old Chatham man was killed when he struck a semitrailer, and another vehicle rear-ended his vehicle, Wednesday afternoon on Interstate 72. The third vehicle’s driver was taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
A 16-year-old Mahomet boy died in a separate accident after crashing into the back of a semitrailer in Douglas County an hour later. Two 17-year-old passengers suffered injuries that weren’t life-threatening.
National Weather Service meteorologist Ed Shimon says dust storms are rare in the area, but that near-perfect storm conditions existed Wednesday. Gusting winds hit speeds of 45 mph, blanketing rural interstates and roads with clouds of blinding dust.
More info on that storm is here.
WCIA also looked back…
May 6th, 1983: A dust storm, unusual in Illinois, affected central and northeast parts of the state. The dust was kicked up from freshly plowed farm fields, and blown northeast by winds up to 60 mph. The dust reduced visibility in some areas to near zero. Numerous accidents resulted, including one near Rantoul which involved 9 cars and 2 semi-trailers. […]
June 3, 1990: Strong winds to near 60 mph affected large areas of northern and east central Illinois. A 13-mile stretch of Interstate 57 was closed from Arcola to Mattoon due to blowing dust. Some damage occurred to trees, power lines, and roofs.
* Meanwhile, this is from an NBC5 story…
“Be ready for a sudden drop in visibility to near zero,” the NWS stated. “If you encounter blowing dust on the roadway or see it approaching, pull off the road as far as possible and put your vehicle in park. Turn the lights all the way off and keep your foot off the brake pedal.”
Why would you want to go dark? From the Arizona Department of Transportation, which has experience dealing with dust issues…
If your car’s lights remain on, any vehicles coming up from behind could use the lights as a beacon, crashing into your car. Remember, you’ve pulled off the roadway to avoid other vehicles. Don’t leave on the lights and increase the possibility of attracting one.
* More…
* Fox 2 Now | I-55 reopens after dust storm causes fatal Illinois crashes: Investigators explained the first crash took place on northbound 55 then at the same time numerous crashes took place southbound on the highway. The wrecks all happened between milepost 76 and 78.
* The Pantagraph | 6 killed, dozens hurt in crashes on dust-choked I-55 in Central Illinois: State police said 37 people were transported to area hospitals with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening. Their ages ranged from 2 to 80 years old, state police said.
* NBC Chicago | 1 of 6 Victims ID’d After I-55 Dust Storm Causes Deadly 72-Vehicle Pile-Up: “Two or three weeks ago, we had a dust storm on Route 104 and it caused some accidents,” Divernon Mayor Jim Copelin told NBC 5 Tuesday. “But nothing of this magnitude. This is beyond unreal.”
* WAND | Drivers in I-55 crash describe chaotic, blinding scene: “There was a truck in front of me and I could see that they were braking hard, and I was able to drive off the road, around the accident,” Maclean told WAND News. Maclean and his wife got out of their car, and could hear more cars crashing, but were blinded by the dust.
[Rich contributed to this post.]
posted by Isabel Miller
Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 8:52 am
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What some don’t realize when traveling in Illinois, vast areas of the state don’t have full-time fire, rescue and EMS staff but rely on local volunteers to provide critical emergency services.
Those volunteers often pay for their own training and too often their own equipment when local funds don’t cover the needed updates.
Yesterday you saw true heroes in action who likely are back at their full time jobs today after responding to a horrible situation and working to save others in conditions unseen before.
God bless everyone one of the first responders volunteer and professionals.
Comment by Give Me A Break Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 9:26 am
Tragic yesterday. Dust storm, fire warnings coming on my phone more regularly. climate change. I guess we will have to learn new precautions and be ready as other states are. the fields were tilled to get ready for crops. if they had not experienced rain, the dry earth was not what you’d like for a dry storm. reminds me to wet down my yard, keep the trees hydrated, and the hose ready for those fire warnings.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 9:26 am
So very tragic, the scene of this catastrophe is heartbreaking, the loss of life, the injuries, my heart goes out to all the victims, and those who lost friends and loved ones
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 9:56 am
== buses from Panhandle School District were picking up stranded motorists==
Were school bus drivers or first responders using these vehicles? If it was bus drivers, they certainly aren’t paid enough for being part of the emergency management system(banned punctuation)
Comment by Sangamo Girl Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 10:02 am
Interesting information about turning off your lights. That would never have occurred to me, so good to know.
Comment by JoanP Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 10:05 am
=== That would never have occurred to me===
Same. It really stuck out.
Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 10:06 am
also think turning the lights off might prompt to turn the car off. like turning your car off in a gas station for fear sparks may ignite, dry situations turn fire fast with a spark.
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 10:24 am
I drove into the 2017 dust storm on I-55 on the way into Springfield late that afternoon. It was absolutely terrifying! I could barely see a thing. I had just driven this stretch of highway over the weekend on a trip to the Capitol and back so this really hits home. My heart goes out to all who were affected by this tragedy.
Comment by AKA "Lester" Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 10:28 am
My dad was a truck driver, and he hammered home one particular piece of advice more than most: when you pull over, pull as far over as you possibly can, even into grass or a farm field. This story came on the news last night, and I tried to impart that advice to my learning-to-drive daughter. What a horrible tragedy.
Comment by The Truth Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 10:53 am
I’m putting the lights tip in my memory bank now. I would have thought the opposite.
Comment by levivotedforjudy Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 11:10 am
==Interesting information about turning off your lights. That would never have occurred to me, so good to know.
Same–people tend to go follow what their eyes fix on so this makes sense.
Comment by ArchPundit Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 11:34 am
=== That would never have occurred to me===
Same here…life saving tip…for sure.
Comment by Dotnonymous Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 11:39 am
In the context of yesterdays incident please consider the wisdom of having your drivers license on your phone.
If you re incapacitated in a crash or have a medical problem, the quickest way that you can be identified and family contacted is the contents of your pockets.
There is at least one circumstance when it won’t matter what kind of identification you are carrying. It does not need to be pointed out here.
Comment by Occasionally Moderated Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 11:42 am
I’ve never seen so many ambulances. So sad.
And early stories were reporting a farmer was doing work he should not have been. I don’t know what that means but I hope they are not feeling guilt or despair.
Comment by Lurker Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 11:53 am
Have been told by first hand account that the dust storms origin appeared to be several counties upwind and built onward from there.
I believe the investigation will likely show no single farm operator caused the dust storm conditions.
Comment by Occasionally Moderated Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 12:13 pm
Just got text msg, this section of I55 is closed due to high winds.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, May 2, 23 @ 4:40 pm