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

Dust storm causes massive wreck on I-55

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”.

Key Points

• At least six dead in crash after dust storm
• First victim identified as 88-year-old woman
• Dust storm causes ‘numerous crashes’ on I-55
• What is a dust storm?

[3 May 2023 08:00 · Graig Graziosi]

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.

[3 May 2023 09:00 · Graig Graziosi]

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.”

[3 May 2023 10:00 · Graig Graziosi]

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.

[3 May 2023 11:00 · Graig Graziosi]

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.

[3 May 2023 12:00 · Graig Graziosi]

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.

[3 May 2023 13:00 · Graig Graziosi]

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.

[3 May 2023 14:00 · Graig Graziosi]

Portion of I-55 shut down again Tuesday due to wind, dust storm warning

Portions of I-55 were shut down again Tuesday 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 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.

[3 May 2023 17:05 · Megan Sheets]

Senator Dick Durbin vows to address dust storm impacts

US Senator Dick Durbin (D - Illinois) has vowed to look into how the impacts of future dust storms can be mitigated.

The Illinois Democrat took to Twitter on Wednesday to address the tragedy two days earlier.

“Thanks to law enforcement, our hospitals, & first responders for their heroic response to the I-55 dust storm tragedy,” he wrote.

“As a member of the Ag Committee, I will be working w/ farmers on a way to deal w/ long term impacts of extreme weather events that have created new challenges.”

[3 May 2023 18:00 · Megan Sheets]

Six of seven victims still not officially named

Two days on from the deadly dust storm pile-up on Interstate 55, only one of the seven victims killed has been officially named.

Shirley Harper, 88, was named as the first victim killed in the tragedy.

Authorities said three other victims have been tentatively identified, while they asked for help identifying two others.

The death toll was initially reported as six but rose to seven on Tuesday.