DIVERNON (US), 2nd May 2023, WAM — A duststorm that reduced visibility to almost zero on Monday triggered a chain reaction crash involving dozens vehicles on an Illinois road, killing six and injuring two dozen other people, Reuters reported.

Around 11 am, a pileup involved between 40 and 60 passenger vehicles and 30 commercial vehicles including many tractor-trailers. State police released a press release stating that the accident occurred at 1200 CT (1200 ET), on Interstate 55 south of Illinois.

Police said that the crashes took place on both sides of I-55, along a 2-mile stretch near Farmersville, which is located about 200 miles (320 kilometers) southwest of Chicago.

Police said that more than 30 people with injuries from minor to serious were taken to hospitals in the area. The patients ranged from 2 to 80 years old.

The state police reported that the pileups are caused by excessive winds blowing dust from farm fields onto the highway. This causes zero visibility.