2 killed, 12 hurt in series of pileups

Two motorists were killed and two others critically injured Tuesday in a series of vehicle pileups that occurred in a blinding sandstorm on the Antelope Valley Freeway in Lancaster.

Authorities said the three crashes, all within minutes of each other on the northbound 14 Freeway at Avenue B, occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. Fifteen vehicles, four of them big rigs, were involved.

Officials did not provide the names of the two dead, describing them only as men apparently in their 70s. Another 12 people who were reported injured were taken to local hospitals.

According to the Associated Press, nine of the injured were members of a family from Fortaleza, Brazil, traveling to Las Vegas.

The crashes left vehicles scattered about the roadway and highway median.

“It was total chaos,” said Officer Henry Ross of the California Highway Patrol.

The northbound lanes remained closed until 7 p.m., and the southbound lanes were shut until about 4 p.m., causing traffic backups in the north Los Angeles County community.

Authorities were still investigating the exact cause of the accidents, but said gusty winds and poor visibility played roles. The second and third multi-vehicle crashes, Ross said, apparently resulted from drivers who slowed or stopped after coming upon the initial accident scene.

Ross said investigators have yet to determine whether any of the drivers were speeding or breaking other laws. He said no one was charged Tuesday in connection with the crashes.

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andrew.blankstein@latimes.com

Times staff writer Stuart Silverstein contributed to this report.