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We have bad news today from Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. An early spring snowstorm with fog caused white-out conditions along Interstate 81, leading to a truly horrific pileup involving more than 50 vehicles. Many people were reported injured. Tragically, at least three people died.
The collision occurred at around 10.30 am local time on the northern line of I-81. The dramatic video at the top of this article captures what happened; We offer a word of warning as it may annoy some people.
Many vehicles, from cars to semi-trucks, can be seen emerging from the fog and snow just seconds before crashing. The video shows the skidding SUV narrowly missing someone standing next to the vehicle on its shoulder. Later, it showed burning vehicles toward the front of the scene, including at least one semi-truck. It is not clear how long the collision continued; The video ends with the person setting out to help another motorist.
Second video from WFMZ-TV (below) shows the stretch of highway as emergency responders tried to extinguish the fire and clear the area.
The news outlet reported that 24 people were taken to local hospitals for injuries. Three people have been confirmed dead, but the number may rise as authorities continue to search for vehicles and clear the scene. As of the evening of March 28, the northern line of I-81 — located about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia — was still closed.
A sudden blizzard is one of the scariest things to experience on the highway. Visibility can drop to near zero in an instant, and sudden bursts of snow often create slippery conditions for drivers. It’s hard to know how to respond in such a situation; ABC 27 quotes the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation as advising motorists to no suddenly hit the brakes or pulled out of the way. The best advice is to make sure the normal and hazard lights are on, don’t change lanes, go slow, and take the next available exit.
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