A dust storm swept through Farmersville, a rural part of central Illinois, kicking up so much dirt and debris it blinded drivers on nearby Interstate 55, causing a pile-up involving up to 80 different vehicles and leaving six people dead, the Chicago Tribune reports. Witnesses said conditions were similar to white-outs during snowstorms, but with dirt.
The crashes started around 11 a.m. local time, with at least 20 commercial vehicles involved. High winds were slated to continue through the area until around 8 p.m. local time Monday. Drivers were instructed to try to stay off Interstate 55, a major traffic artery in the region, with an 18-mile section of the highway from Zanesville to Divernon closes while authorities try to clear the road.