WeatherFanatics: Dust Storm Clouds Visibility on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson: At Least 3 People Killed

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Dust Storm Clouds Visibility on I-10 between Phoenix and Tucson: At Least 3 People Killed

October 29,2013

Arizona DOT

A look at one of the crashes along westbound I-10 in Phoenix Tuesday afternoon.

CASA GRANDE, Ariz. -- Authorities in Arizona say three people are dead and at least 12 others injured after a dust storm led to multiple crashes on Interstate 10 between Phoenix and Tucson.
One of the three people killed Tuesday has been identified as 76-year-old Gordon Lee Smith of Mead, Wash.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials say Smith's wife is among the injured. Her condition isn't immediately available.
The DPS says 19 vehicles, including at least six big rigs, were involved in chain-reaction collisions south of Casa Grande (KAH'-sah GRAHN'-day) shortly after noon. They say at least one passenger car was pinned between two 18-wheelers.

Medical helicopters airlifted several of the injured to hospitals in Tucson and Phoenix, and DPS officials said at least one person was in critical condition.
The names and hometowns of the other two killed weren't immediately available, authorities said.
The Picacho Peak area is prone to dust storms that develop suddenly and can quickly reduce visibility to zero for drivers.
The National Weather Service had issued a blowing dust advisory shortly before the crashes, with wind gusts of up to 30 mph reported in the area.
DPS spokesman Bart Graves said Tuesday's crash was one of the worst chain-reaction accidents in that area in the past seven years.
Parts of the westbound lanes of I-10 at the crash scene were closed for more than five hours.