Dust storm causes multi-vehicle accident, injures 16 in Oklahoma
-A A +AFriday, October 19, 2012
HOUSTON -- Near blackout conditions caused by a dust storm led to a multi-vehicle accident in the U.S. state of Oklahoma Thursday, injuring 16 people, local media reported.
Up to 30 cars were tied up in the accident that happened in the afternoon after high winds created a dust bowl across highway I-35 near the Oklahoma/Kansas border, according to local TV channel NewsOn6.
Video from television station helicopters showed the highway virtually disappearing into billowing dust, and dozens of vehicles scattered in the median and on the shoulders.
A total of 16 people were injured in the multi-vehicle accident, but miraculously none appeared to be in serious condition, a fire department official was quoted as saying.
The dust storm caused a near blackout with visibility reported at less than 10 feet (about 3 meters), according to the report.
The combination of extended drought in that area and the extremely strong winds made the dust storm possible, Gary McManus, the Oklahoma state climatologist, was quoted as saying. (PNA/xinhua)
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