Eight people killed after dust storm causes massive pile-up involving 55 vehicles in Kansas

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This was the scene of devastation after dozens of vehicles collided in the US state of Kansas.

At least eight people were killed in the major crash caused by a dust storm on Friday.

Aerial images show the scale of the devastation, with scores of lorries and cars crumpled together.

The incident, which happened on a stretch of road called Interstate 70 between Goodland and Colby in Sherman County, was described by firefighter Brian James as the ‘most emotional draining experience in my 22 years of being in the fire service’.

A view shows pile-up accident in I-70 highway, in Sherman County, Kansas, U.S., in this handout image obtained on March 15, 2025. TROOPER TOD/KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY MANDATORY CREDIT OVERLAYS FROM SOURCE.
Utter devastation after 55 vehicles including cars and lorries crashed into each other in Kansas (Picture: Reuters)
A view shows pile-up accident in I-70 highway, in Sherman County, Kansas, U.S., in this handout image obtained on March 15, 2025. TROOPER TOD/KANSAS HIGHWAY PATROL/Handout via REUTERS THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY MANDATORY CREDIT OVERLAYS FROM SOURCE.
At least eight people have been killed in the incident caused by a dust storm on Friday (Picture: Reuters)

Interstate 70 is still closed in both directions while the recovery effort is carried out.

The fatalities are among at least 34 people known to have died in powerful storms across Texas, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Widespread alerts for flash floods, wind, and wildfires are in place for more than 100 million people – from Texas across to Indiana.

Communities are coming to terms with the devastation, with many returning to homes completely flattened by strong winds or tornadoes while 100,000 households are without power.

Couple Bob Rybak and Patty Schmitz were lucky to avoid serious injury when they were caught up in the pile-up.

POPLAR BLUFF, MISSOURI - MARCH 15: Stevie Kara searches for personal items after her home was destroyed on March 15, 2025 in Poplar Bluff, Missouri. Kara was at home when the storm came through and woke up on the ground needing stitches in her hand and leg. Many homes throughout Harmony Hills were damaged by the severe weather on Friday night that left one person dead in Butler County, Missouri. At least 19 people have reportedly been killed after tornadoes and severe storms hit several midwest and southern states overnight. (Photo by Brad Vest/Getty Images) ***BESTPIX***
Stevie Kara searches for personal items after her home was destroyed in Poplar Bluff, Missouri (Picture: Getty)
Debris lies around a damaged home the morning after a tornado touched down in Florissant, Missouri, U.S. March 15, 2025. REUTERS/Lawrence Bryant
Thousands of people are coming to terms with scenes like this after tornadoes and strong winds hit parts of the US (Picture: Reuters)

They were hit by three vehicles when the dust storm hit, according to The Wichita Eagle.

Ms Schmitz, from Ohio, said: ‘The fact we’re alive and we were able to basically walk away from what should have been a fatal accident. We’re just so lucky and grateful because so many people weren’t that lucky.’

This handout image released by the Missouri State Highway Patrol on March 15, 2025 shows a damaged marina on Clearwater Lake, near Piedmont, Missouri, after severe storms hit the area. At least 33 people were killed and dozens more injured on March 15 when tornadoes and violent storms raked across the central United States, officials said. (Photo by Handout / Missouri State Highway Patrol / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / Missouri State Highway Patrol" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/Missouri State Highway Patrol/AFP via Getty Images)
A damaged marina on Clearwater Lake, near Piedmont, Missouri, after severe storms (Picture: AFP)

The US has been hit by wild weather since the beginning of 2025.In January, wildfires spread through Los Angeles, turning affluent neighbourhoods into smouldering rubble.

Earlier this month, firefighters were battling to contain 170 wildfires that had broken out in the Carolinas.

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