8th person dies in Illinois massive highway pile-up caused by dust storm

FARMERSVILLE, Ill. (WICS) — An eighth person has died as a result of a pile-upthat involved more than 70 vehicles along a highway in Illinois.

Sangamon County Coroner Jim Allmon said Ruth Rau, 81, of Sorento, was a passenger in a car that crashed on Interstate 55 in Montgomery County during a dust storm on May 1.

Rau was taken by EMS from the scene to HSHS St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.

Allmon said Rau died as an inpatient at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday from multiple blunt force injuries she sustained in the crash.

Her death remains under investigation by the Sangamon County Coroner and the Illinois State Police.

A total of 72 vehicles are known to be involved in the crashes, with at least 37 people transported to area hospitals, with injuries ranging from minor to critical.

Seven other people were killed, including:

• Otto Medina-Salazar, 58, of Carthage
• Amy and Michael Zinchuck, of Champaign
• Shirley Harper, 88, of Franklin, Wis.
• Joseph Bates, 73, of Crystal Lake
• Donna Bates, 71, of Crystal Lake,
• Earl LeGrand, 64, of Florissant, Mo.

State police said the crash was caused by excessive winds, which blew dirt from farms across the highway.

The National Weather Service said visibility was less than a quarter mile to zero.

Blowing dust causing a multiple-car pile-up on I-55 between Divernon and Farmersville. Visibility less than a quarter of a mile. Visibility can become zero at times. If you encounter blowing dust on the roadway or see it approaching, pull off the road as far as possible," according to The National Weather Service.

State police said advised drivers who face similar conditions to slow down, try to get off the highway, and not to stop in the middle of the road.