At least 6 dead, 30 injured in vehicle crashes amid dust storm in US Illinois

CHICAGO -- At least 6 people died and more than 30 others were injured in a dust storm that caused pileups from vehicle crashes on a highway in US Midwest state of Illinois on Monday.

State police troopers responded to numerous crashes about 11 am Monday on both directions of I-55 in Montgomery County, south of Springfield, capital of Illinois, the Chicago Tribune quoted the police as saying Monday.

About 20 commercial motor vehicles and 40 to 60 passenger cars were involved in the crashes, including two tractor-trailers that caught fire.

The crashes were caused by "excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway leading to zero visibility," police said. I-55 is currently shut down in both directions.

State police are investigating.