By Leila Merrill
FireRescue1/SA国际传媒
DIVERNON, Ill. 鈥� A windstorm stirred up dangerous clouds of blinding dust Monday, causing multiple vehicle crashes that killed at least six people on Interstate 55, according to the Illinois State Police.
The crashes late Monday morning involved 40 to 60 cars, .
Illinois State Police Maj. Ryan Starrick said more than 30 people ranging in age from 2 to 80 years old had been transported to hospitals, the . Some patients had life-threatening injuries.
Two trucks caught fire in the crashes.
More than 30 agencies dispatched crews to the scene. The Springfield Fire Department鈥檚 was among them.
Kevin Schott, director of the Montgomery County Emergency Management Agency, said despite the significant dust, first responders were able to extinguish the fires and search for victims.
鈥淭his is a difficult scene, something that is very hard to train for, something that we really haven鈥檛 experienced locally,鈥� Schott said.
About 200 miles of the highway were closed, and a reunification site was set up.
