Utah Department of Public Safety
A sandstorm in Millard County, Utah, brought about lowered visibility and led to a collection of crashes on I-15 Sunday, officers mentioned.
CNN
—
Eight people are dead and several more had been critically injured when authorities say a sand or mud storm brought about visibility points that led to a collection of crashes involving 20 autos in Utah Sunday night.
The crashes occurred on I-15 close to Kanosh, the Utah Department of Public Service (DPS) mentioned in a news release.
Four of the deaths had been adults and 4 had been youngsters beneath the age of 15, in accordance to a press launch from the Utah Department of Public Safety.
Ten people had been transported to space hospitals, and a minimum of three of these people are in crucial situation.
Utah Department of Public Safety
A sandstorm in Millard County, Utah, led to a collection of lethal crashes on I-15, officers mentioned Sunday.
“It appears that 20 vehicles were involved in Sunday’s crashes after high winds caused a sand or dust storm and impaired visibility on the roadway,” the discharge mentioned. “The Utah Highway Patrol summoned troopers from Richfield and Beaver to assist. Multiple ground and air ambulances also responded to transport victims.”
Images of the crash website present a number of tractor trailers and several broken passenger autos littering the highway, with particles scattered for yards. At least one vehicle seems to have had its passenger doorways ripped off.
DPS closed the highway in each instructions following the crash, which occurred simply earlier than 5 p.m., officers mentioned.
A powerful thunderstorm was reported southeast of Kanosh round 4:30 p.m., with robust winds occurring because the storm decayed, CNN Meteorologist Gene Norman mentioned. A close-by report of a 51-mph wind gust was additionally recorded.
The crash occurred in a area that’s experiencing among the worst drought conditions in the country, which makes mud storms more possible. The total state of Utah is in the 2 most excessive drought classes as of final week, in accordance to the US Drought Monitor.
Climate scientists have mentioned this 12 months’s historic drought is fueled by climate change, which decreases precipitation and causes more soil-drying warmth waves.
Though the weekend thunderstorms introduced useful rain to remoted areas, the precipitation wasn’t important sufficient to stop gusty winds from kicking up mud and filth and carrying it for miles. The National Weather Service on Sunday famous a special storm, south of the crash, additionally created a dangerous dust storm.
Names of the crash victims gained’t be launched till 24 hours after their households have been notified, the discharge mentioned.
Kanosh is about 155 miles southwest of Salt Lake City.
This is a creating story and will probably be up to date as more data turns into accessible.