Photos: Fiery collision in dust storm near Red Rock killed 8 in 1964
A Summer dust storm on the Casa Grande Highway (SR 84, now Interstate 10) near Red Rock caused a fiery mass collision involving 23 vehicles on July 12, 1964. Eight people burned to death and 25 were injured. Nine cars, three tractor-trailers and a pick-up were burned in the wreck. The powerful storm cell kicked up winds of 75-mph, causing a "blinding" cloud of dust.Â
It was one of the worst days for traffic deaths in Arizona history. In addition to the 8 dead near Red Rock, 7 people died near Williams and 2 people died in Mesa.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
Three tractor-trailers destroyed during a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
A State Dept. of Public Safety officer examines a vehicle after a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
Three people died in car that was hit by the tractor-trailer, which caught fire, during a wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
Burned up tractor-trailers after fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
Volunteers and first responders pull apart a sedan and tractor-trailer that collided during a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
A burned-up tractor-trailer after fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
A boy holds up melted aluminum from a vehicle after a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
A destroyed tractor-trailer after a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
An eerie scene after a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
Investigaors look at a tractor-trailer involved in a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
Volunteers at the scene of a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
A burned vehicle after a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
Burned vehicles stacked along SR 84 after a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Fatal collision at Red Rock, 1964
Burned up vehicles at a gas station on SR 84 north of Tucson after a fiery wreck involving 23 vehicles during a dust storm on SR 84 (now I-10) near Red Rock, Arizona, on July 12, 1964. Eight people died and 25 were injured.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor