This was the scene of devastation after dozens of vehicles collided in the US state of Kansas.
At least eight people were killed in the major crash caused by a dust storm on Friday.
Aerial images show the scale of the devastation, with scores of lorries and cars crumpled together.
The incident, which happened on a stretch of road called Interstate 70 between Goodland and Colby in Sherman County, was described by firefighter Brian James as the ‘most emotional draining experience in my 22 years of being in the fire service’.
Utter devastation after 55 vehicles including cars and lorries crashed into each other in Kansas (Picture: Reuters)
At least eight people have been killed in the incident caused by a dust storm on Friday (Picture: Reuters)
Interstate 70 is still closed in both directions while the recovery effort is carried out.
The fatalities are among at least 34 people known to have died in powerful storms across Texas, Missouri, Mississippi, Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Widespread alerts for flash floods, wind, and wildfires are in place for more than 100 million people – from Texas across to Indiana.
Communities are coming to terms with the devastation, with many returning to homes completely flattened by strong winds or tornadoes while 100,000 households are without power.
Couple Bob Rybak and Patty Schmitz were lucky to avoid serious injury when they were caught up in the pile-up.
Stevie Kara searches for personal items after her home was destroyed in Poplar Bluff, Missouri (Picture: Getty)
Thousands of people are coming to terms with scenes like this after tornadoes and strong winds hit parts of the US (Picture: Reuters)
Ms Schmitz, from Ohio, said: ‘The fact we’re alive and we were able to basically walk away from what should have been a fatal accident. We’re just so lucky and grateful because so many people weren’t that lucky.’
A damaged marina on Clearwater Lake, near Piedmont, Missouri, after severe storms (Picture: AFP)
TAYLOR-Jane Wedge, 24, couldn’t believe it when her mum cheated with her man.
But more heartache was to come . . .
Lorna RoachTaylor-Jane Wedge and Dave Shaw are rebuilding their trust[/caption]
Lorna RoachTaylor’s mum slept with Dave behind her back – then burned her house down[/caption]
BUMPING into the familiar looking woman in a Blackpool pub, my body shook with nerves.
It was my long-lost mum, Mandy O’Brien, who I hadn’t seen since I was six months old, when I was put up for adoption.
My adoptive father, who died aged 61 from natural causes this year, and my adoptive mother, now 58, were always open with me about my past.
They explained to me that my biological mother was just 17 when I went to live with them. But I was eager to know more.
My mum, now 42, and I wrote to each other through social services until I was 11 — but over time, the letters stopped.
In my early twenties, I wanted to contact her again. I just didn’t expect it to be so easy.
It was winter 2022 and I was having a drink with my fiancé Dave Shaw, now 48, at a local pub near where I lived when I spotted her.
I recognised her immediately from the photos and couldn’t help but steal glances at her. Eventually, she came over and asked if I was OK.
“Do you have a daughter named Taylor-Jane?” I asked her. She nodded, just as gobsmacked as I was.
From there, we just couldn’t stop talking. It felt like everything was falling into place. First, there was Dave and now Mandy, who I soon started calling Mum.
I donated a kidney to my boyfriend – but he dumped me a few months later
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I’d met Dave two years earlier through his son, my 25-year-old friend, and I knew right away that he was the one for me.
He was incredibly sexy and we clicked — he was like the male version of me.
After just three days of dating, he proposed. I was shocked, but over the moon. I said yes straight away.
My family was supportive. Dave had even asked my adoptive dad for my hand in marriage. It was quick, but Dad laughed and said: “Time to go to the pub to celebrate!”
Dave moved into my then-one bedroom flat. I was marrying my best friend and I loved our whirlwind romance.
We hadn’t made any solid plans yet, and with money being tight, we hadn’t booked a venue. But we knew we wanted to get married in May 2024, on our four-year anniversary.
Whirlwind romance
I’d even ordered a stunning dress from eBay, with a sweetheart neckline, four-foot train, veil and tiara.
I couldn’t wait to feel like a princess for the day — everything seemed perfect. So much so that we even got matching tattoos of the date we met: 06/05/2020.
Meeting Mum was the icing on the cake. After that, we started meeting almost every day, chatting non-stop.
It was around this time, as we sat in my living room discussing plans for my wedding, that Mum dropped a bombshell — she had once dated Dave. I was hurt and shocked Dave hadn’t told me.
When I asked him about it, he said he didn’t remember, and I was left confused as to why Mum had brought it up. But I figured it was all in the past.
Not long after, things started to feel “off” in my relationship with Dave. He became distant and we were bickering.
Mandy, left, and Taylor-Jane enjoyed being reunited until the cheating rowSuppliedTaylor-Jane and Dave before his infidelitySupplied
Still, I pushed my worries aside and invited Mum to move in with me and Dave as she needed a place to stay.
By that point, we’d moved into a bigger home. At first, I kept a close eye on them, sticking to Dave like a limpet at home.
But, as time went on, I noticed that he and Mum weren’t awkward or flirtatious, and soon I began to feel more at ease.
A year passed. I didn’t suspect any jealousy from Mum over my relationship with Dave. She and I grew closer to one another.
But even though she had her own room, my sex life with Dave began to fizzle out, which worried me.
We’d postponed the wedding because of money, but had every intention of marrying. Then came a night which still haunts me.
It was there I saw them having sex, doggy-style, on the floor. Feeling horrifically betrayed, I screamed: ‘What the hell is going on?’ I stormed out, while Dave stayed with Mum
Taylor-Jane Wedge
It was May 2024, and I had just returned from a night out with some friends.
I turned the key in the lock, let myself in and poked my head around the living room door to let Mum and Dave know I was home.
It was there I saw them having sex, doggy-style, on the floor. Feeling horrifically betrayed, I screamed: “What the hell is going on?” I stormed out, while Dave stayed with Mum.
I went to stay with a friend while Mum and Dave set up home together. It was like they were playing happy families — living together in my house — but neither tried to contact me.
It made me feel awful every day. I only went back a couple of days later to collect my wedding dress, which I immediately set on fire in my back garden. I felt numb as it went up in flames.
I couldn’t believe it. I’d found my mum just two years earlier and now I’d lost her all over again. A friend was kind enough to let me stay, but two weeks later, I found something more permanent in Preston, Lancs.
Lorna RoachTaylor said: ‘I’ve heard of keeping it in the family, but I never expected to catch my fiance doing the dirty with my mum’[/caption]
Lorna RoachTaylor said: ‘They were playing happy families … It really did break my heart’[/caption]
I was there when my phone began blowing up with texts from concerned friends, all asking if I was OK.
It emerged my two-bed rented house back in Blackpool, which I had spent time and money decorating, was on fire.
Despite everything, my first thought was for Dave’s safety. I did not even think about my mum, honestly.
I began ringing around everyone as I had got rid of his number. He’d betrayed me in the worst way imaginable, but the truth was, I still loved him.
A few days later, we managed to reunite after a mutual friend told him I was desperately hunting for him and he came to where I was staying.
I hugged him. He told me Mum had too much to drink and set my house on fire with them both inside. Our local newspaper reported that Mum had torched the house on purpose.
They were playing happy families … It really did break my heart
Taylor-Jane Wedge
I was fuming when I read that Mum had claimed Dave had dared her to do it — I knew he’d never do anything so reckless.
Dave lost important paperwork and we both lost sentimental pictures.
After fire crews battled the blaze until 5am, Mum was charged with arson with intent to endanger life.
Then Dave told me he didn’t know what he was thinking and he loved me.
It wasn’t easy, but we kept on talking and, in time, we reunited.
We’re not rushing into a wedding and are rebuilding the trust between us, but I never stopped loving Dave.
Preston crown court was told she drank ten cans of Carling before setting fire to a pile of T-shirts, and that it had been a “cry for help”.
Dave and I have now moved to Rhyl in North Wales for a fresh start.
I’ve heard of keeping it in the family, but I never expected to catch my fiance doing the dirty with my mum.
I’ve heard of keeping it in the family, but I never expected to catch my fiance doing the dirty with my mum
Taylor-Jane Wedge
It really did break my heart, but I’ve learnt to trust him again.
Sadly, I’ll never be able to forgive Mum — I don’t want to see her again.
Dave told Fabulous: “I deeply regret cheating on Taylor-Jane with her mum. It was a big mistake and I’m happy that we’ve moved on. I can’t wait to marry her.”
Mandy says: “I’d say I was a bit jealous. I wanted Dave back. There was quite a lot of flirting going on.
“Me and Dave were just watching a film and then one thing led to another.
“We didn’t hear her come in and she caught us having sex. I was going to tell Taylor. I’ve never lied to her.”
