At least 40-60 cars were involved in traffic accidents on I-55 in Illinois due to a sandstorm. Local authorities have confirmed the deaths of several people without giving an exact number and said at least 30 people have been hospitalized. After one of the incidents, at least two vans caught fire.
The freeway was closed in both directions in Montgomery County, 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of St. Louis. “The cause of the accidents is excessive winds blowing debris from agricultural fields across the highway, resulting in zero visibility,” Illinois State Police Major Ryan Starrick said at a news conference. Starrick said such blinding dust storms have already occurred on the streets of Illinois “where unfortunately excessively strong winds blow” blowing topsoil from fields. Farmers are currently busy planting fields throughout Illinois and the Midwest. Starrick said I-55 will be closed Tuesday until late morning or early afternoon. “Visibility in the area is said to be poor due to dust bubbles,” the Illinois state police said in a statement earlier. “Traffic has been diverted to alternative routes.”