Powerful ‘Haboob’ Dust Storm Causes Multi-Vehicle Pileup in California

A powerful “haboob” dust storm has caused a multi-vehicle pileup on a California highway, authorities said on Wednesday.

What Happened?

A haboob, a dust storm carried by the wind of a weather front that typically occurs in flat areas, swept across a California highway near Chowchilla Monday afternoon.

The dust storm reduced visibility to near-zero, causing a pileup involving over 20 vehicles on State Route 152, the California Highway Patrol said.

The California Highway Patrol reported multiple hospitalizations, although most injuries were minor.

Footage posted online by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection showed the immense scale of the dust cloud sweeping across Chowchilla, illustrating the dramatic and dangerous impact of this weather phenomenon that left motorists disoriented and trapped in a chain-reaction collision.

Eyewitness accounts captured the panic of those caught in the storm. Delissa Fulce, a motorist involved in the accident, described the ordeal as harrowing.

“We got hit, we thought we were okay, then we got hit again, and again. We just thought it wasn’t going to be over. I really thought we were going to die. And I’m really thankful we’re okay,” Fulce told local ABC affiliate KFSN-TV.

Similar Incidents

This is not the first time weather has caused accidents on the road as hazardous road conditions are not unusual when drivers face unexpected weather.

In May 2023, six people were killed and over 30 hospitalized in a multi-car wreck on an Illinois highway after a dust storm severely reduced visibility, according to local law enforcement.

Illinois State Police (ISP) at the time said that several crashes occurred along Interstate 55 after the storm spurred treacherous road conditions. According to ISP, around 30 commercial vehicles and from 40 to 60 passenger cars were involved in the wreck, including two semi-trailers “that caught fire as results of the crashes.”

The incident came after persistent winds coming from the northwest intensified on and contributed to the storm. A blowing cloud of dust eliminated visibility on Interstate 55 in Springfield and led to the crash.

Meanwhile, in October 2023, a multi-car pileup on an interstate in Louisiana occurred when a “superfog” likely played a significant role in the fatal accident.

According to Louisiana State Police, troopers responded to multiple crashes on Interstate 55 in both directions between Ruddock and Manchac. St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said there were a total of 25 crashes in three different spots along I-55, with at least two people dead and 30 injured, according to local news station Fox 8.

In a post to X (formerly Twitter), the National Weather Service (NWS) New Orleans stated that smoke combined with dense fog is known as superfog and had led to worsening visibility issues in the area.

“Dense fog & smoke have combined to form what is known as Superfog (yes, it is the technical name),” NWS New Orleans wrote.

This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.