At least six people were killed and others injured in southern Montana in a large car pileup Friday afternoon during a storm that kicked up dust and caused “near blackout conditions,” authorities said.
The crash on Interstate 90 outside Hardin, Montana, a town of 3,800 about 50 miles east of Billings, involved 21 vehicles, including six semi-trucks, Sgt. Jay Nelson, a spokesman for the Montana Highway Patrol, said in an interview. It was not yet clear how many people were injured, he said.
Authorities did not immediately release the names or ages of the victims.
“Everything indicates that there was an isolated weather event that caused near blackout conditions at that location,” Sergeant Nelson said. “A dust storm in the area with extremely strong winds is the preliminary cause of the crash.”
On Friday afternoon, thunderstorms in the area produced strong gusty winds, known as downdrafts, that move about 30 miles ahead of the storms, said Nick Wertz, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Billings.
In the late afternoon, there were wind gusts of 62 miles per hour that kicked up dust and reduced visibility to less than a quarter mile, he said. Wind gusts from these storms are typically 30 to 40 miles per hour, Mr. Wertz said.
The crash, which happened around 4:30 p.m., shut down Interstate 90 while the Highway Patrol investigated. As of 9 p.m., the eastbound lanes were still closed and authorities were diverting traffic.
Gov. Greg Gianforte said late Friday on Twitter that he was “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,” he said. “We are grateful to our first responders for their service.”
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