Big Car Pile-Up due to Sandstorm, Northern Germany

[Extratropical94]

Eight people were killed and another 131 were injured during a massive car pile-up on Germany's A19 motorway as more than 80 vehicles crashed while driving through a dense sandstorm.
On April 8, a storm swept through northern and eastern Germany causing wind gusts of 50-70 mph. Because of very small amounts of rain in the past weeks the soil on the ground was very dry and loose and so the wind lifted the sand and carried it away from a nearby field near the town of Kavelstorf.
The sand-air-mixture accumulated in a low-lying sink where the motorway is running straight through and thus a "sand wall" formed.
After the crash several cars and trucks caught fire and burned down completely. The crash was the biggest of its kind ever recorded in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania with an estimated damage of at least a few million Euros.
The reason for the crash is still unknown, but in my opinion it's likely that some of the drivers braked after entering the storm and because the cars behind were unable to spot those braking cars, they crashed into them at full speed.
The sandstorm lasted for such a long time that even the rescuers could hardly control the situation and help the injured drivers.

Here's a video that contains some footage:
http://www.weather.com/outlook/videos/s ... e-up-20293

[Macrocane]

Very interesting, where did the sand come from?

[Extratropical94]

The sand came from very dry nearby fields, it was lifted by strong wind gusts (gale force, >90km/h) and blown across the road.
Recently, there was another sandstorm at the same place and because of the same reasons.
A truck carrying a swimming pool toppled over and blocked the road.
Local authorities have trouble solving the problem and additionally, this region is forecast to only recieve .05 inches (1-2 mm) of rain during the next 8 days.