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DPS: Monday dust storm creates deadly conditions on I-10 near Quartzsite

Posted at 3:39 PM, Aug 15, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-16 19:36:18-04

The Arizona Department of Public Safety said a dust storm created low visibility and contributed to five crashes on Interstate 10 in western Arizona on Monday, and one of the those collisions turned deadly.

DPS said the fatal crash happened in the eastbound lanes at milepost 44, about 25 miles east of Quartzsite. The driver, 76-year-old Susan Bartholomew, of Litchfield Park, got caught in between two semi trucks. She was pronounced dead at the scene.

The storm brought traffic to a standstill for hours in both directions, according to DPS spokesman Quentin Mehr.

Officials reminded people to not drive through a dust storm, and instead wait it out by pulling off to the side, turning lights off and keeping your foot off of the brake.