A highway dust storm in Illinois just before 11am turned deadly as dozens of vehicles crashed on Interstate 55, 6 people died, 37 hospitalized. I'm certain blizzards have caused less wreckage!

A blinding dust storm caused  72 vehicles to pileup on Illinois highway near Farmersville.

"The cause of the crash is due to excessive winds blowing topsoil, dust, and dirt from farm fields across the highway leading to zero visibility," State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick said at a news conference. The first pileup was reported on the northbound side of the interstate, which runs through farm country. 

"This is not uncommon," Starrick said. "This has happened before in various parts of the state of Illinois."

However, he said, the number of vehicles and casualties was unusual. An official said at the news conference that it was difficult to reach the injured because some vehicles were on fire when first responders arrived.

The National Weather Service on Monday forecast "widespread blowing dust," with gusts of 34 mph possible, for the Farmersville area. Winds were out of the northwest, federal forecasters said.

State police said visibility continued to be low. The interstate was closed in both directions north of Farmersville, a small village along a defunct stretch of Route 66, as investigators tried to determine the chain of events.

Starrick said the interstate could be closed until Tuesday afternoon, and state police urged motorists to continue to seek alternative routes.

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/blinding-dust-storm-illinois-leads-multiple-fatalities-dozens-hospital-rcna82327