A powerful dust storm, known as a haboob, swept through central California on Monday, causing a multi-vehicle pile-up on State Route 152 in Madera County. The massive cloud of dust significantly reduced visibility, leading to a chaotic chain reaction of crashes, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The accident involved approximately 20 vehicles, resulting in several people being transported to hospitals with minor injuries. Officials did not specify the exact number of those injured.
Video footage shared by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection captured the dramatic scene, showing an immense wall of dust engulfing the landscape near Chowchilla. Motorist Delissa Fulce described the harrowing experience. “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,” Fulce told ABC 30.
A haboob is a type of intense dust storm carried by the wind of a weather front, commonly occurring in flat, arid regions. Monday’s event underscored the unpredictable and dangerous nature of such weather phenomena in California.
