Idaho State Police say that a sudden dust storm contributed to a deadly pileup crash yesterday afternoon.
The crash happened around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, May 14, near Hazelton, Idaho.
Troopers say that “rain, heavy winds & blowing dust” contributed to the major pileup crash in the westbound lanes of I-84.
As the dust storm caused limited visibility, three semi trucks and a pickup truck came to a stop on the interstate, according to KTVB. Fifty-eight year old truck driver Filimon B. Miranda, also westbound on I-84, then collided with the pickup truck driven by 52 year old Douglas Megargle, sending it crashing into another one of the stopped semi trucks driven by 31 year old Kyle Hoskins.
Miranda’s truck then crashed also crashed into Hoskins’ truck, sending it through a fence.
Miranda continued west and hit the rear of a semi truck driven by 24 year old Jake Sluder. The impact sent Sluder’s truck crashing into anther semi driven by 54 year old Keith Witt.
Motorist Wilma L. Benefiel, 72, then crashed her SUV into Megargle’s pickup truck.
Megargle died at the scene as a result of his injuries.
Hoskins and Miranda and a passenger in the pickup driven by Megargle were all transported to the hospital.
Westbound I-84 was closed for hours but all lanes reopened shortly before 8 p.m.