Rare storm causes chaos for Ritzville drivers

RITZVILLE - A massive dust storm known as a haboob wreaked havoc on drivers near Ritzville Tuesday night, causing two multi-car collisions and leaving five people injured.

The National Weather Service reported wind gusts reached 60 mph during the storm that passed through the Columbia Basin Tuesday, creating zero visibility for drivers west of Ritzville as a wall of dust blanketed the highway.

Two separate collisions, involving six cars and three semi-trucks, occurred within minutes of each other on Interstate 90 about 22 miles west of Ritzville, according to the State Patrol.

In both crashes, drivers had to stop because of zero visibility and their vehicles were struck from behind by oncoming traffic. It created a chain reaction of collisions that left four vehicles totaled and closed I-90 East for several hours.

Four people from Moses Lake were injured in the crashes and transported to Samaritan Hospital in Moses Lake including Randy T. Koon, 51, who rear-ended two vehicles that had already stopped in the dust storm; his two passengers, Chriselda Koon, 20, and Jordan T. Koon, 48; and David J. Turcotte, 31, who attempted to pull his vehicle to the side of the road and got out of his vehicle before it was struck. John R. Christensen, 54, of Wenatchee, was also taken to Samaritan Hospital, according to the State Patrol.