Illinois dust storm: Drivers describe blind terror of 72-car pile-up on Interstate 55 that killed seven
Shirley Harper, 88, was named as the first victim killed in the dust storm accident on interstate 55 near Springfield, Illinois
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Your support makes all the difference.The first victim has been identified after a dust storm caused a 72 vehicle pile-up on the I-55 outside of Springfield, Illinois.
The massive pile-up occurred during a dust storm with low visibility on Monday (May 1) morning.
Seven victims were killed while 37 were taken to hospital with injuries ranging from minor to life-threatening, and those hurt are two to 80 years old, Illinois State Police said in a statement.
Shirley Harper, 88, was named as the first victim killed in the tragedy. The death toll was initially reported as six but rose to seven on Tuesday as investigators asked for the public’s help in identifying two yet-to-be-named victims.
The Montgomery County Coroner’s office is working to identify the five others and notify their families.
Kevin Schott, the director of Montgomery County’s Emergency Management Agency, said that efforts to rescue victims were hampered by the thick dust on the scene as well as multiple vehicle fires which made it difficult to get to “victims in a rapid manner”.
Drivers describe the chaotic dust storm accident
Drivers who experienced the dust storm — and some who were involved in the accident — have spoken out about their experiences on the day of the massive pile up.
“You couldn’t even see,” Evan Anderson, 25, told The Associated Press. “People tried to slow down and other people didn’t, and I just got plowed into. There were just so many cars and semi trucks with so much momentum behind them.”
“The only thing you could hear after we got hit was crash after crash after crash behind us,” Tom Thomas, 43, said.
Driver who traveled through Illinois dust storm likened it to a ‘war zone'
Quetta Penson told ABC7 she was on her way home to Chicago when she passed dozens of crashes on I-55 near Springfield on Monday.
She likened the disturbing scene to the aftermath of a battle.
“It felt like a war zone,” she said. “We could see bodies that were just lifeless laying in the grass on the side of the road.”
Illinois State Police say they need help to identify two bodies
Illinois State Police have not been able to identify two of the crash victims and are asking for the public’s help.
Four of the six killed in the accident have been identified so far, but only one — Shirley Harper, 88 — has been named.
Illinois investigators canvassing family members to identify final two victims
Law enforcement officials in Illinois are canvassing families who fear their loved ones may have been involved in the I-55 dust storm crash in an attempt to identify the final two victims killed during the pile up.
“We believe we are communicating with family members and we are using variety of techniques and investigative capabilities to be able to confirm that these are in fact their family members that are the victims,” Illinois State Police Director Brendan Kelly said during a press conference on Tuesday.
Four of the six victims have been identified. Only one, Shirley Harper, has been named. Two more individuals remain unidnetified, and police have asked for the public’s heath determining their names.
Illinois State Senate has moment of silence for victims of I-55 dust storm crash
The Illinois State Senate had a moment of silence today to honour the six individuals killed in a pile-up crash during a dust storm on Monday afternoon.
“The Illinois Senate has risen in silence for a moment to honor the victims and first responders involved in yesterday’s terrible string of accidents, injuries and fatalities along I-55 south of Springfield,” the Senate said in a tweet.
Photos of wreckage from Monday’s crash
A local reporter in Illinois captured photos of some of the wreckage cleared from I-55 following Monday’s fatal dust storm pile-up.
The Illinois State Police confirmed that approximately 72 vehicles were involved in the crash.
House Representative Nikki Budzinski remembers victims of I-55 pile-up
House Representative Nikki Budzinski acknowledged the victims of the I-55 dust storm pile-up Tuesday in a tweet.
“My heart goes out to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives in the tragic crash on I-55 yesterday. Please join me in keeping them in our thoughts and prayers,” the lawmaker wrote.
Six people died in the crash.
Shirley Harper, 88-year-old grandmother killed in I-55 crash, remembered by her family
Shirley Harper, 88, was one of the six individuals killed in the I-55 pile-up caused by a dust storm on Monday.
She leaves behind a large family and numerous grandchildren.
“She would talk to anybody, do anything for anybody,” Tim Shaffer, her son-in-law, told ABC7. “People like her, we need more of them in the world.”
Five others were killed in the crash. Police are seeking assistance from the public to identify two of the victims. The other three have been identified but have not been publicly named.
Dust storm warning today for parts of Illinois, including portions of I-55
A dust storm warning has been issued for parts of Montgomery County in Illinois, including portions of I-55 where a dust storm contributed to a massive and fatal pile-up accident on Monday.
The warning will last until 4:30pm.
“The alert has been updated to a “Dust Storm Warning” and is until 4:30 PM, very focused on northern part of Montgomery County, Weather Service is getting reports of reduced visibility along I-55 in that area,” KMOV chief meteorologist Steve Templeton wrote on Twitter.
Portion of I-55 shut down again due to wind, dust storm warning
Portions of I-55 have shut down again today due to dust storm and wind warnings, according to local reports.
I-55 was the site of a fatal pile-up accident Monday when high winds kicked up a dust storm that obstructed driver’s vision. Six people died in the accident.
The Illinois Department of Transportation has closed I-55 between the 72 and 80 mile markers, which is the same stretch of road where the pile-up occurred.
The National Weather Service issued a dust storm warning along US-51 for Pana, Illinois until 4:15 pm. A dust storm warning was also issued along I-55 near Farmersville and I-55 near Waggoner until 4:30 p.m.
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