2023 central Illinois dust storm

On May 1, 2023, a dust storm occurred in several counties in central Illinois. The storm created dangerous driving conditions on roads and highways in the area, resulting in a large vehicle pileup on Interstate 55; 8 people were killed and at least 37 were wounded. It is the deadliest dust storm in Illinois history.

## Background

Dust storms are relatively uncommon in Illinois, and are more common in the southwestern United States. However, when they do happen in the state, they typically occur from April to June, as this is when farms are usually tilled. The displacement of dirt from tillage is a common cause for dust storms, and the practice has been criticized by many who advocate for better farming methods. The last major dust storm in Illinois occurred in May 2017, leading to two deaths.

In late April 2023, farmers in Illinois began tilling and plowing fields in preparation for crop season. In the weeks prior to the storm, there was little rainfall in comparison with previous years, leaving the ground dry. On April 4, a minor dust storm resulted in a section of Illinois Route 104 being shut down. On May 1, 2023, many parts of the Midwest experienced heavy winds; a top windspeed of 54 mph was recorded at Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport in Springfield, Illinois. These winds picked up much of the loose soil from farms in central Illinois.

## Storm

At 1:46 PM on May 1, the National Weather Service in Lincoln, Illinois issued a blowing dust warning for Sangamon, Christian, and Shelby counties. The warning stayed in effect until 7 PM. The dust storm was most intense around the Sangamon/Montgomery County border, causing zero visibility on nearby roads. The plume of dust was reportedly 200 feet (61 m) high.

### Pileup

A pileup began to develop at around 10:55 AM on the northbound side of Interstate 55 between Divernon and Farmersville. This pileup would grow to some 84 vehicles and included both sides of the highway before visibility improved. 8 people were killed, and at least 37 others were wounded. Two semi-trucks caught fire, and at least one of them exploded, leaving sections of grass scorched. Many people caught in the pileup were unable to open their eyes due to the thickness of the dirt in the air.

In addition to the police and firefighter response, ten helicopters and a number of school buses were brought to the scene in order to transport victims to area hospitals. It is the deadliest pileup in Illinois history, as well as the 7th deadliest in U.S. history.

### Victims

Police initially announced that there were 6 fatalities, but this increased to 7 when they determined that a set of remains which they previously thought belonged to one victim actually belonged to two. An 8th victim, Ruth Rau, was hospitalized for over two weeks before succumbing to her injuries on May 16.

* Joseph Bates, 73
* Donna Bates, 71
* Shirley Harper, 88
* Earl LeGrand, 64
* Otto Medina-Salazar, 58
* Ruth Rau, 81
* Michael Zinchuk, 55
* Amy Zinchuk, 54

## After the storm

A section of I-55 was closed so that vehicles and wreckage could be removed. It reopened the following morning. On the afternoon of May 2, the same stretch was again shut down after strong winds caused another dust storm, though less severe.

1. ↑ https://www.weather.gov/ilx/01may2023-dust
2. ↑ https://www.weather.gov/ilx/May\_17\_Dust\_Storm
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/death-toll-rises-to-7-after-dust-storm-causes-massive-pileup-in-illinois/1520836
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 https://www.bnd.com/news/local/article276492586.html
5. ↑ https://khqa.com/news/local/isp-6-dead-and-37-injured-after-72-cars-crashed-on-i-55-illinois-interstate-55
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 https://southernillinoisnow.com/2023/05/17/148511/#
7. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiple-vehicle\_collision
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 https://abc7chicago.com/illinois-dust-storm-pile-up-interstate-55-accident-i-crash/13203789/