US: 6 dead in Montana 21-car pile up after windy dust storm with ‘zero visibility’
- The authorities believe the weather was the cause; ‘it was just a surge of wind that kind of appeared out of nowhere’
- Police said additional ambulances were called in to help
Six people have died after a dust storm fuelled by wind gusts topping 60mph caused a pile-up on Interstate 90 in Montana, authorities said.
Twenty-one vehicles crashed on Friday evening and Montana Highway Patrol Sgt. Jay Nelson said the authorities believed the weather was the cause.
“It appears as though there was heavy winds, causing a dust storm with zero visibility,” he said.
While the highway patrol did not have an immediate count of the number of injuries, Nelson said additional ambulances had to be called in from Billings to help.
Governor Greg Gianforte said on Twitter: “I’m deeply saddened by the news of a mass casualty crash near Hardin. Please join me in prayer to lift up the victims and their loved ones. We’re grateful to our first responders for their service.”
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who oversees the highway patrol, said in a statement: “The Montana Highway Patrol is on the scene with other first responders and investigating the incident. We will release more information as it becomes available and is appropriate out of respect of the lives lost and their loved ones.