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Six persons are useless in a Montana freeway pileup Friday that will have been brought on by a mud storm, authorities mentioned.
A sequence of collisions involving 21 automobiles occurred on Interstate 90 close to Hardin, Montana Freeway Patrol Sgt. Jay M. Nelson mentioned by electronic mail.
“A fast-arising mud storm triggered a 21-vehicle incident this night,” he mentioned.
Two kids have been amongst these killed. Additional particulars weren’t instantly out there.
Eight individuals have been hospitalized, in response to freeway patrol. Their situations weren’t offered.
It took greater than six hours to completely reopen the freeway. Nelson mentioned authorities have been coping with “lots of particles and full chaos.”
All eastbound site visitors was diverted off the freeway, and westbound site visitors was lowered to at least one lane, in response to the Montana Division of Transportation, which first reported in regards to the pileup close to mile submit 493 at 4:55 p.m.
“I am deeply saddened by the information of a mass casualty crash close to Hardin,” Gov. Greg Gianforte tweeted. “Please be a part of me in prayer to raise up the victims and their family members. We’re grateful to our first responders for his or her service.”
There have been thunderstorms over Billings, a metropolis round 40 miles west of Hardin, and an “outflow” which despatched robust winds towards Hardin, mentioned Nationwide Climate Service meteorologist Todd Chambers.
“The winds outran the thunderstorm,” Chambers mentioned.
The winds picked up mud and a gust of 64 mph was recorded close to Hardin, he mentioned. Visibility measured round 1 / 4 of a mile.
The Nationwide Climate Service had issued extreme thunderstorm watches and warnings for south central and southeastern Montana Friday.
Phil Helsel and The Related Press contributed.
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