Dust storm in Illinois causes ‘multiple’ fatalities after 40 to 60 cars crash on major highway, officials say

[lightbright]

A dust storm is to blame for a major pileup on a highway in Central Illinois on Monday, officials said

Multiple fatalities have been reported after a dust storm caused at least 40 to 60 cars to crash along a major highway in Illinois Monday, officials said.

The crashes along I-55 led to the interstate closing in Sangamon and Montgomery counties, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. The city of Springfield, the state capital, is in Sangamon County.

Illinois State Police Captain Ryan Starrick said at least “40 to 60 passenger cars” were involved in the crashes and they have reports of “multiple fatalities” and more than 30 people being hospitalized.

At least two semi trucks caught fire in the crashes, according to Starrick.

“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 state Department of Transportation said in a tweet.

CNN has reached out to county coroner offices and state police for more information.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Dust storm in Illinois causes ‘multiple’ fatalities after 40 to 60 cars crash on major highway, officials say​

 

[easy_b]

Oh no

 

[lightbright]

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[lightbright]

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[lightbright]

Illinois dust storm -- Raw video from Nathan Cormier​

llinois State Police say that I-55 is closed in two places because of blackout conditions on the highway. Wind is blowing dirt from nearby farm fields across the road and reducing visibility. There may be dozens of vehicles involved in crashes because of the dust storm. I-55 is shut down between Litchfield and Divernon, south of Springfield, Illinois. The rural cities are located over 30 miles from each other. The Divernon City Hall being used as reunification center for families of people involved in the crash.

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[knightmelodic]

damn

Does this happen often there? I wonder why the fields were so dry. Did trump fucking over the farmers contribute to the situation?

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[APOPHIS]

Damn...

 

[Lexx Diamond]

The destruction and aftermath will be considered and act of God. Just ask those insurance settlers. R.I.P.

 

[cashwhisperer]

I was gonna joke about praying for dusty illinois niggas daily an all...

But nah, thoughts and prayers and damn, life is a trip!

 

[Helico-pterFunk]

Condolences to the victims’ families.

 

[easy_b]

damn

Does this happen often there? I wonder why the fields were so dry. Did trump fucking over the farmers contribute to the situation?

Inquiring minds want to know.

This is climate change.

 

[lightbright]

damn

Does this happen often there? I wonder why the fields were so dry. Did trump fucking over the farmers contribute to the situation?

Inquiring minds want to know.

Peep the entire article..... farmers started prepping for farming.... a literal perfect storm

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[woodchuck]

I wonder why the fields were so dry. Did trump fucking over the farmers contribute to the situation?

Sometimes, when land is over-harvested and not replenished, it could lead to this. This is what happened during the Dust Bowl years.

 

[lightbright]

This is climate change.

Slow your roll Henny Penny... pump ur brakes.. that section of the country is the dust bowl.... it happens there..... read the article.... do your research


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[lightbright]

Sometimes, when land is over-harvested and not replenished, it could lead to this. This is what happened during the Dust Bowl years.

Thankyou, I was just telling Henny Penny about that

 

[easy_b]

Slow your roll Henny Penny... pump ur brakes.. that section of the country is the dust bowl.... it happens there..... read the article.... do your research


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If you did your research, this area normally don’t get dust storms like this until the summer. Also, if you look on this map, there’s really no drought around Illinois. This was freakish, and this is climate change.

| U.S. Drought Monitor

droughtmonitor.unl.edu

 

[lightbright]

If you did your research, this area normally don’t get dust storms like this until the summer. Also, if you look on this map, there’s really no drought around Illinois. This was freakish, and this is climate change.

| U.S. Drought Monitor

droughtmonitor.unl.edu

Siiiiiiiiiiiigh.... "the sky is falling, THE SKY IS FALLING!"


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[easy_b]

Siiiiiiiiiiiigh.... "the sky is falling, THE SKY IS FALLING!"


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From that comment, I see I prove my point. When it comes to meteorology, I do a very thorough research before I post on this board.

 

[lightbright]

From that comment, I see I prove my point. When it comes to meteorology, I do a very thorough research before I post on this board.

 

[knightmelodic]

Peep the entire article..... farmers started prepping for farming.... a literal perfect storm

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What article? I don't see any. Also, wouldn't prepping include irrigation?

 

[easy_b]

What article? I don't see any. Also, wouldn't prepping include irrigation?

Around that area they have very serious snowmelt like I said, this is very freakish, and it is a part of climate change.

 

[lightbright]

What article? I don't see any. Also, wouldn't prepping include irrigation?

My bad man.... it was in another article that I saw when I was attempting to get information on the accident.... they said that farmers had started turning soil to prepare for planting this season


.

 

[big enos burrnet]

all down i-55 is MAGA'merica...all farm land and manure processing plants..and you see alot of nascar trucks on them farms...

 

[Texas_C]

I drove that stretch a few times back in January. I hate that part of I-55, so isolated, no trees, and if the wind blows you really feel it. And if it rains, you really fucked.

 

[Coldchi]

damn.........visibility is like 20ft

 

[easy_b]

damn.........visibility is like 20ft

Yup is was bad

 

[Politic Negro]

 

[lightbright]

@easy_b steady talking about climate change and drought were the causes..... everyone on the news said it was from the farmer's tilling the soil, prepping for planting..... it's been raining and snowing for weeks.... everything is green in that drone footage.... except for the land that was tilled which dried in the sun.... so much for Henny Penny's research... I think that I'll stick with @4 Dimensional as the board meteorologist.... ya know, that guy that went to school for it....

 

[4 Dimensional]

@easy_b steady talking about climate change and drought were the causes..... everyone on the news said it was from the farmer's tilling the soil, prepping for planting..... it's been raining and snowing for weeks.... everything is green in that drone footage.... except for the land that was tilled which dried in the sun.... so much for Henny Penny's research... I think that I'll stick with @4 Dimensional as the board meteorologist.... ya know, that guy that went to school for it....

Yeah, that’s an unspoken thing that happens from time to time especially in the plain states where there is a lot of cropping.

 

[lightbright]

Yeah, that’s an unspoken thing that happens from time to time especially in the plain states where there is a lot of cropping.

You notice that he hasn't come back..... I think he 's looking for his measure stick, so that he can monitor floods

 

[Politic Negro]

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- Illinois State Police publicly identified three more victims of the deadly Interstate 55 dust storm crash Saturday morning.

Joseph Bates, 73, of Crystal Lake and Donna Bates, 71, of Crystal Lake were killed in the crash.

Earl LeGrand, 64, of Florissant, Missouri was also killed.

The family of Michael Zinchuk, 55, of Champaign and Amy Zinchuk, 54, also of Champaign spoke out for the first time Friday.

Illinois State Police previously identified another victim as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin.

 

[easy_b]

You notice that he hasn't come back..... I think he 's looking for his measure stick, so that he can monitor floods

7 died in an Illinois dust storm pileup — will climate change bring more such tragedies?

Climate models show the United States will likely see more dust storms as rising temperatures dry out the ground and rains fall less frequently.

www.usatoday.com

 

[lightbright]

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, Ill. (WLS) -- Illinois State Police publicly identified three more victims of the deadly Interstate 55 dust storm crash Saturday morning.

Joseph Bates, 73, of Crystal Lake and Donna Bates, 71, of Crystal Lake were killed in the crash.

Earl LeGrand, 64, of Florissant, Missouri was also killed.

The family of Michael Zinchuk, 55, of Champaign and Amy Zinchuk, 54, also of Champaign spoke out for the first time Friday.

Illinois State Police previously identified another victim as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin.

Old people....


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[Ceenote]

Im here in Illinois and thats not far from me but i never even heard of this shit.. wow

 

[big enos burrnet]

was watching this MAGA farm show and they was saying that the farmers who cause this could be held liable for that..this one
farm expert was saying if they would have a good amount of compose on top of the soil they would have to deep tillage the
land the way they did causing that huge dust cloud...so they knew rite away the farmers was fucking up tha rotation...