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Multiple Fatalities In Multi-Vehicle Crash On Highway 287 Near Lamar

LAMAR, Colo. (CBS4) - The Colorado State Patrol responded to a multi-vehicle crash on Highway 287 south of Lamar Wednesday evening that kept the highway closed overnight.

Two people were killed in the crash and there were multiple injuries to several others.

Colorado State Patrol investigated the crash and said a sandstorm that reduced visibility may have contributed to the crash on Hwy. 287 near milepost 69 in Prowers County.

The chain-reaction crash started when a 2003 Ford van, traveling northbound on Hwy. 287, stopped in the northbound lane because of that storm. When the Ford stopped, it was struck from the rear by a 2014 Freightliner semi-tractor pulling a loaded trailer.

That started a chain reaction that involved at least 10 vehicles, some of them semis.

The two people who died were in separate vehicles. They were identified Thursday as Caryol Heckman, 75, of McClave, Colorado; and Xiao Feng, 53, of Dallas.

Highway 287 remained closed in both directions until 9:20 a.m. Thursday.

Dust storms do sometimes occur on Colorado's southeastern plains. The area has been hit hard by drought in recent years, but conditions have eased after a wet spring.

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