Six Fatalities from Blowing Dust That Shut Down Large Section of I-55 in Montgomery and Sangamon Counties

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Published on May 1 2023 1:51 pm
Last Updated on May 2 2023 10:35 am
Written by Greg Sapp

Six people were killed during a series of crashes on Interstate 55 starting about 11am Monday. Blowing dust from farm fields appeared to have caused the crashes that forced the closing of I-55 in both directions.

Illinois State Police report there was a crash on northbound I-55 at Milepost 76 at 10:55am. At the same time, there were numerous crashes on southbound I-55, also at Milepost 76. The crashes occurred within a two-mile stretch, roughly from Milepost 76 to Milepost 78. That's an area between Farmersville and Divernon. 

Approximately 30 commercial motor vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars were involved. This included two truck-tractor semi-trailers that caught fire as a result of the crashes.

37 people were transported to hospitals, along with the six fatalities. Injuries range from minor to life-threatening and ages range from two years old to 80 years old. 

All of the fatalities occurred in the northbound lanes. One of those killed has been identified as 88-year-old Shirley Harper of Franklin, Wisconsin. 

Northbound and Southbound I-55 were reopened to traffic at 6am today.