DIVERNON, In poor health. (AP) — A windstorm in south-central Illinois kicked up harmful clouds of mud off farm fields Monday, blinding drivers and inflicting quite a few crashes and “a number of fatalities” on Interstate 55, police mentioned.
The late morning crashes concerned 40 to 60 vehicles and a number of tractor-trailers, two of which caught fireplace, Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick mentioned. The freeway was shut down in each instructions in Montgomery County, 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of St. Louis.
“The reason for the crashes is because of extreme winds blowing dust from farm fields throughout the freeway, resulting in zero visibility,” Starrick mentioned at a information convention.
He reported that there have been “a number of fatalities” however didn’t give an actual quantity, saying that will be launched later within the day.
Winds on the time have been gusting between 35 mph (56 kph) and 45 mph (74 kph), the Nationwide Climate Service mentioned.
“It’s extremely flat, only a few timber,” meteorologist Chuck Schaffer mentioned. “It has been very dry throughout this space actually for the final three weeks. The farmers are on the market tilling their fields and planting. The highest layer of soil is sort of unfastened.”
Starrick mentioned greater than 30 folks have been transported to hospitals with accidents following the crashes, which occurred in each the southbound and northbound lanes.
He mentioned I-55 can be closed till late morning or early afternoon Tuesday.
The Auburn Journey Middle in Divernon was established as a reunification spot for vacationers.
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Related Press reporters Rick Callahan in Indianapolis and Ed White in Detroit contributed to this report.