DPS confirms 3 dead in blowing dust collision on I-10

Authorities say they believe low visibility from a channel of blowing dust has caused a deadly multi-vehicle collision on Interstate 10 north of Picacho Peak. The Department of Public Safety said three people are confirmed dead and more than a dozen others have been injured in the pile-up along westbound I-10 at milepost 214. Several medical helicopters were seen on television footage taking some of the injured to hospitals. Injuries range from minor to severe, police authorities said.
The next-of-kin of one of the victims, identified as Gordon Lee Smith, 76, of Mead, WA, has been notified. Nineteen vehicles were involved in the collision - 10 semitrailers and nine passenger vehicles.
"It looks like one big event right now but in reality its probably a series of collisions," said DPS Capt. Brian Preston. "So you may have collisions one and two that became part of three and four." TV footage showed passenger cars crumpled and tractor-trailers smashed.