February 21, 2026 5:35 AM

Dust Storm Contributed to Multiple Crashes on Interstate 40 Tuesday Morning, Officials Say

NEWBERRY SPRINGS, CA. (Pain In The Pass) >> A powerful dust storm swept through the open desert along Interstate 40, causing multiple crashes and poor visibility Tuesday morning.

A large thunderstorm blew in from the east direction just after 8am on September 2, 2025.

The first crash happened around 8:30am on I-40 near Fort Cady Road exit, in Newberry Springs. The collision was reported a silver pickup truck towing a car on the trailer, that rear-ended a semi tractor-trailer. The driver was trapped and needed to be extrication by fire rescue.

A green semi tractor-trailer that was reportedly overturned by strong gusty winds.

The third collision was with 3 semis with one semi rear-ended another semi. One semi driver was trapped and needed to be extrication by fire rescue.

The California Highway Patrol confirmed that eastbound I-40 was closed at Newberry Springs due to the cleanup and the dangerous gusty winds for hours. It’s since been reported.

A haboob is a dust storm carried by the wind of a weather front that typically occurs in the desert by a large thunderstorm.

Investigators say it was a dust storm that caused drivers to lose visibility and crash into one another.

However, they did not specify the exact number of injuries. No fatality was reported.

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Photo credit by the CHP Barstow Office
Photo credit by the CHP Barstow Office
Photo credit by the CHP Barstow Office
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Cajon Pass
5:35 am, Feb 21, 2026
temperature icon 30°F
clear sky
Humidity: 64 %
Pressure: 1022 mb
Wind: 1 mph
Wind Gust: 2 mph
Clouds: 0%
Visibility: 10 km
Sunrise: 6:28 am
Sunset: 5:38 pm
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