DUST STORM SHUTS DOWN AREA ROADWAY; OFFICIALS REPORT THREE CRASHES.Byline: Bhavna Mistry Daily News Staff Writer Winds gusting up to 45 mph caused a blinding dust storm Monday that led to three crashes and wrecked 10 vehicles, officials said. Authorities shut down 50th Street East between avenues N and M, erecting roadblocks and diverting traffic. ``There is so much dust blowing you can't see anything,'' said Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. County sheriff's Deputy Mike Berk. Winds were measured up to 53 mph at Mojave Airport, 36 mph at Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. , 35 mph at Fox Airfield in Lancaster and 45 mph at Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale. Firefighters said they were sent to three separate crashes involving 10 vehicles between noon and 12:45 p.m. along 50th Street East between avenues M and N, just east of Air Force Plant 42. Dust blowing off open fields reduced visibility to zero at times, officials said. None of the motorists suffered major injuries, but rescue workers put them in ambulances and a sheriff's patrol car to wait out the storm. They then were escorted out of the area. ``There's just a tremendous amount of dust,'' said Cliff Bailey, tower manager at Palmdale's Plant 42. ``It's all blowing from the farmlands.'' Officials said winds were intense on the south end of the Antelope Valley This article is about the Los Angeles County region. For the census-designated place in Wyoming, see Antelope Valley-Crestview, Wyoming. The Antelope Valley between noon and 2 p.m., then shifted toward Mojave later in the afternoon. Monday's crashes occurred 2-1/2 miles south of where a dust storm in February led to two crashes, wrecking nine vehicles and injuring five people. The Feb. 27 storm also knocked down power poles power pole Noun Austral & NZ a pole carrying an overhead power line and damaged roofs. Power was not affected during Monday's storm, Southern California Edison Southern California Edison (or SCE Corp), the largest subsidiary of Edison International (NYSE: EIX), is the primary electricity supply company for much of Southern California. It provides 11 million people with electricity. officials said. The area remained closed to motorists at 4:30 p.m. ``Right now it's still shut down,'' said California Highway Patrol highway patrol n. A state law enforcement organization whose police officers patrol the public highways. Officer Pablo Torres. ``If it keeps blowing, it'll be closed until further notice.'' Wind forecast Maximum wind speeds Monday in the Antelope Valley U.S. Air Force Plant 42: 45 mph Fox Airfield: 35 mph Edwards AFB AFB abbr. acid-fast bacillus AFB Acid-fast bacillus, also 1. Aflatoxin B 2. Aorto-femoral bypass : 36 mph Mojave: 53 mph |
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