The 20-car pileup in Utah
© Utah Highway PatrolThe 20-car pileup in Utah in which at least eight people were killed.
At least eight people have been killed in a 20-vehicle pileup during a sandstorm in Utah, the highway patrol said.

The crashes happened on Interstate 15 near the town of Kanosh on Sunday, the agency said in a news release. Several people were reportedly taken to hospitals in critical condition. Ground and air ambulances were used to transport crash victims.

The pileup occurred during a period of high winds that caused a dust or sandstorm which reduced visibility, the highway patrol said.

Five of the eight people killed were in one vehicle, while two others were in another vehicle, according to a news release. Another fatality was in a third vehicle.


The highway remained partially shut down late on Sunday. Traffic was redirected around the crash site.

Kanosh is located about 160 miles (258 kilometres) south of Salt Lake City.

Guardian staff with agencies