Death toll increases to seven in Illinois 72 vehicle pileup triggered by dust storm

Illinois State Police (ISP) have released more information on Monday’s deadly pileup crash on I-55.

In a May 2 press release, ISP said that the number of people killed in the pileup has increased from six to seven.

“Initially, six individuals were found deceased at the crash scene. However, the severity of the crash masked the remains and what was previously believed to be the remains of one individual was two,” ISP said.

Officials are still working to identify all of the deceased.

The pileup occurred shortly before 11 a.m. on May 1 on both the northbound and southbound lanes of I-55 between mile post 72 and 78 near Farmersville in Montgomery County.

ISP says that a total of 72 vehicles were involved.

A total of 37 people were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to critical.

ISP named the cause of the crash as “excessive winds blowing dirt from farm fields across the highway, leading to zero visibility.”

On Tuesday, May 2, ISP reopened I-55 in the morning, but temporarily closed both directions of the interstate again due to another dust storm causing poor visibility conditions.