Duststorm causes crashes, prompts closures

Katie Teachout, The Journal | Last updated Sep 11, 2020 5:49pm0

Kellie Kragt count

Traffic backed up on Ritzville streets Monday after the state Department of Transportation closed area highways.

Jen Effrig | Special to The Journal count

Blowing dust on Interstate 90 limited the visibility of drivers and prompted road closures.

RITZVILLE - A duststorm that began just before noon caused multiple crashes, prompting area road closures through early evening hours Monday, Sept. 7.

Washington State Patrol Sgt. Ethan Wynecoop said the multiple car crashes, which were all dust-related, resulted in no serious injuries.

"It was absolutely a mess. You couldn't see more than 10 feet in front of you," Wynecoop said. "Almost every state route through our patrol area here had crashes of one sort or another."

Wynecoop said Intestate 90, state Highways 26, 21 and 261, and U.S. Highway 395 were all closed due to a lack of visibility.

All the highways have since been re-opened.

"There may be some cars out there yet, we still have to sweep the beat to see if there is anything remaining," Wynecoop said.

He added that the state Department of Transportation checked Highway 395 to Franklin County, and the patrol checked I-90 to Grant County to make sure the roads were safe before reopening.

Author Bio

Katie Teachout, Editor

Katie Teachout is the editor of The Ritzville Adams County Journal. Previously, she worked as a reporter at The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle, the Oroville Gazette-Tribune, Northern Kittitas County Tribune and the Methow Valley News. She is a graduate of Western Washington University.