Two children are among six people killed in a collision in Montana after a dust storm Friday night caused power outages on Interstate 90, a major route in both Montana and the Western US
Montana Highway Patrol Sergeant Jay Nelson said investigators have so far found no other factors that may have contributed to the pileup, which also sent eight others injured to hospitals.
“It’s all indicative of an isolated extreme weather event,” Nelson said of the investigation, calling the crash among the worst he’s seen in 24 years in the state. “What could people do? It was really just panic.”
The build-up was just west of Hardin, with additional ambulances called from Billings to assist. The identities of the dead and the condition of the survivors have not yet been released.
The crash was reported around 4:30 p.m. as 21 vehicles, including six commercial semi-trucks, lost control in the dust storm, fueled by gusts reaching 60 mph (97 km/h), authorities said.
Nelson said there was zero visibility for a mile-long stretch during peak summer traffic for those commuting from work or traveling for outdoor recreation.
It took more than six hours to fully reopen the road.
“We had a lot of debris and total chaos,” Nelson said.
Gov. Greg Gianforte said on Twitter: “Deeply saddened by the news of a fatal crash near Hardin. Please join me in prayer to lift up the victims and their loved ones. We are grateful to our first responders for their service.”
I am deeply saddened by the news of a fatal crash near Hardin. Please join me in prayer for the upliftment of the victims and their loved ones. We are grateful to our first responders for their service.
— Governor Greg Gianforte (@GovGianforte) July 16, 2022
Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who leads the Highway Patrol, said in a statement that the Montana Highway Patrol, which he leads, is investigating. “We will release more information as it becomes available and appropriate out of respect for the lives lost and their loved ones.
Video from The Billings Gazette shows hundreds of tractor-trailers, campers and cars backed up for miles on both eastbound lanes of the interstate.
Before the accumulation, storms appeared in south-central Montana between 1 and 2 p.m. and slowly began moving east, said Nick Wertz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Billings.
Those storms triggered a severe thunderstorm watch that blanketed Hardin and other parts of Montana from mid-afternoon to 9:00 pm Friday. Forecasters predicted the potential for isolated hail the size of a quarter, scattered gusts up to 75 mph (121 km/h) and frequent lightning.
The so-called outflow — or surge of wind that is produced by storms — flew about 30 miles (48 kilometers) ahead of the storms, Wertz said.
Winds picked up rapidly at the time of the crash, according to reports from the nearby Big Horn County Airport. A gust of 40 mph (64 km/h) was recorded about 15 minutes before the crash was reported, and less than an hour later another gust hit 64 (103 km/h).
Winds easily whipped up dust — a product of recent temperatures in the 90s and triple digits over the past week — and reduced visibility to less than 1/4 mile (0.4 kilometers).
“If they looked up at the sky while they were in Hardin, they probably didn’t see much of what you would think of as a thundercloud, maybe not much at all,” Wertz said. “It was just a gust of wind that came out of nowhere.”
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