A massive dust storm swept through California’s Central Valley on Monday, triggering a pile-up of about 20 vehicles on State Route 152 in Madera County, leaving several with minor injuries.
The California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported that the dust storm, known as a ‘haboob’, made it difficult for motorists on the highway to see which led to the multi-vehicle collision. Haboobs can occur unannounced and are formed by strong winds, most common in southwest states, sometimes reaching miles long and multiple thousand feet high, according to the National Weather Service.
The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire) shared video footage of the storm in a post on X, showcasing its immense scale and rapid movement. The photos were taken near the Bakersfield Jet Center.
One of the motorists involved in the pileup, Delissa Fulce, told ABC 30 she thought she was going to die when the storm hit.
“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,” she told the news station.
The CHP confirmed that several individuals were taken to local hospitals with minor injuries, though the exact number wasn’t specified.
The dust storm’s impact extended beyond the highway pileup.
In the same post, Cal Fire’s Tulare Unit reported that their Porterville Air Attack Base had also encountered challenging weather conditions when returning from a separate incident in Kern County. Air Attack 410, Tanker 76, and Tanker 78 were forced to land at Bakersfield Jet Center as the dust storm moved through several Central Valley counties.