1 Dead, Several Hurt in Arizona Crashes

Authorities say at least one person is dead and multiple others are injured after a blinding dust storm rolled across the Arizona desert Tuesday afternoon, causing pileup crashes involving at least 30 vehicles on Interstate 10 northwest of Tucson.

Arizona Department of Public Safety spokesman Bart Graves tells The Associated Press says he expects more than 15 people were seriously hurt in the wrecks near Picacho, about 54 miles northwest of Tucson.

Graves says several medical helicopters are transporting victims to hospitals in Tucson.

Visibility was reduced to zero because of intense dust blowing in the area. The state Department of Transportation reports the interstate is closed in both directions.

The crashes involved commercial and passenger vehicles and began around 12:15 p.m.