‘Multiple fatalities’ in mud storm crashes on Illinois freeway, police say

DIVERNON, Ill. — 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 “multiple fatalities” on Interstate 55, police stated.

The late morning crashes concerned 40 to 60 vehicles and a number of tractor-trailers, two of which caught hearth, Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick stated. The freeway was shut down in each instructions in Montgomery County, 75 miles (120 kilometers) north of St. Louis.

“The cause of the crashes is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway, leading to zero visibility,” Starrick stated at a information convention.

He reported that there have been “multiple fatalities” however didn’t give a precise quantity, saying that will be launched later within the day.

Winds on the time had been gusting between 35 mph (56 kph) and 45 mph (74 kph), the National Weather Service stated.

“It’s very flat, very few trees,” meteorologist Chuck Schaffer stated. “It’s been very dry across this area really for the last three weeks. The farmers are out there tilling their fields and planting. The top layer of soil is quite loose.”

Starrick stated greater than 30 folks had been transported to hospitals with accidents following the crashes, which occurred in each the southbound and northbound lanes.

He stated I-55 can be closed till late morning or early afternoon Tuesday.

The Auburn Travel Center in Divernon was established as a reunification spot for vacationers.