Six Dead After Dust Storm Causes Crashes on Interstate 55 in Illinois

At least six people were killed and more than 30 people were injured in crashes caused by “excessive winds” that blew dust onto Interstate 55 in Farmersville, Ill., on Monday morning, leading to “zero visibility” conditions, the Illinois State Police said.

The crashes, which took place just before 11 a.m. in a rural area south of Springfield, involved about 20 commercial vehicles and 40 to 60 cars, including two tractor-trailers that caught fire, the police said in a statement.

The highway, a key artery in the region, remained shut in both directions between milepost 63 and 80, and drivers were urged to seek alternate routes.

This is a developing story.