The late morning crashes involved 40 to 60 cars and multiple lorries – two of which caught fire, Illinois State Police Major Ryan Starrick said. Mr Starrick told reporters that it was a spring version of a “whiteout situation” typically seen in winter snowstorms. “The cause of the crashes is due to excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway, leading to zero visibility,” he said. Smouldering wreckage is seen after a crash involving vehicles on a motorway in Illinois (WICS TV via AP)Winds at the time were gusting between 35mph and 45mph, the National Weather Service said. He said the I-55 would be closed until late morning or early afternoon on Tuesday.

Source: The Times May 02, 2023 04:15 UTC