Illinois dust storm: Firefighters tackle blaze after massive pileup
- last year
A dust storm that caused a huge pileup on a highway in the USA has left six people dead.
The 72-car pileup in Illinois also left 37 injured.
The rare dust storm swept across a rural part of the state near Farmersville, bringing "zero visibility" to Interstate 55 on Monday.
The pileup was on both sections of the road on a two-mile stretch of the I55 but the six deaths occurred on the northbound highway.
Footage shows the heart of the pileup as emergency services attend while the dust storm is still raging.
Commercial vehicles such as trucks and cars can be seen quashed together on the highway.
Additional footage shows firefighters tackling a blaze as black smoke billows amongst the dust storm.
Illinois State Police said in a statement: "At this time, 72 vehicles are reported being involved in the crash.
"A total of 37 people were transported to area hospitals.
"Injuries range from minor to life-threatening and ages span from 2- years-old to 80-years-old.
"Reports show there are six fatalities, all occurring in the northbound lanes.
"At this time, one decedent has been identified as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, WI.
"The Montgomery County Coroner's Office is working diligently to identify the other five individuals and notify their families.
"Northbound and southbound lanes remain closed.
"Once the interstate is cleared of all vehicles, the Illinois Department of Transportation will have to inspect the roadway before it is re-opened.
"This information is still preliminary and the ISP continues to investigate this crash."
The 72-car pileup in Illinois also left 37 injured.
The rare dust storm swept across a rural part of the state near Farmersville, bringing "zero visibility" to Interstate 55 on Monday.
The pileup was on both sections of the road on a two-mile stretch of the I55 but the six deaths occurred on the northbound highway.
Footage shows the heart of the pileup as emergency services attend while the dust storm is still raging.
Commercial vehicles such as trucks and cars can be seen quashed together on the highway.
Additional footage shows firefighters tackling a blaze as black smoke billows amongst the dust storm.
Illinois State Police said in a statement: "At this time, 72 vehicles are reported being involved in the crash.
"A total of 37 people were transported to area hospitals.
"Injuries range from minor to life-threatening and ages span from 2- years-old to 80-years-old.
"Reports show there are six fatalities, all occurring in the northbound lanes.
"At this time, one decedent has been identified as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, WI.
"The Montgomery County Coroner's Office is working diligently to identify the other five individuals and notify their families.
"Northbound and southbound lanes remain closed.
"Once the interstate is cleared of all vehicles, the Illinois Department of Transportation will have to inspect the roadway before it is re-opened.
"This information is still preliminary and the ISP continues to investigate this crash."