Over 30 people were injured and several are dead after a number of crashes during a dust storm on Interstate 55 downstate Monday, officials said.
At least 20 commercial vehicles and 40 to 60 cars were involved in the crashes just before 11 a.m. They started on the northbound side, and some eventually took place on the southbound side, as well, Illinois State Police said.
Illinois State Police said troopers responded to I-55 near mile post 76 in Montgomery County for multiple crashes with injuries, due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway.
The extent of the injuries was not immediately clear. Two semitrailers caught fire.
The highway is shut down in both directions from mile post 63 to 80, ISP said.
Visibility is low due to blowing dust.
The Illinois Department of Transportation tweeted just after 11:15 a.m. that I-55 was closed in both directions between Divernon and Farmersville, Illinois in Sangamon and Montgomery counties.
IDOT also retweeted a photo from one Twitter user that showed the dust storm in that area.
Traffic is being detoured on IL-48 and IL-104 through Taylorville, IDOT said. Motorists are asked to avoid the area.
The roadway is not expected to reopen until at least Tuesday afternoon.
Police believe everyone has been transported from the scene, but officials were conducting a second search of vehicles Monday afternoon.
The stretch of I-55 is south of Springfield.
U.S. Rep. Nikki Budzinski, D-Springfield, tweeted, “My team and I are closely following the devastating crash on I-55 as authorities learn more. Please be safe as this situation continues to unfold.”
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