A pileup involving around 50-60 vehicles on Interstate 81 in Pennsylvania killed at least three people Monday morning, according to officials.
The multivehicle crash, which included tractor-trailers, occurred in Schuylkill County as a snow squall moved through the area, leaving multiple dead and injured, the Schuylkill County deputy coroner told WBRE.
Around 20 people have been taken to area hospitals to be treated after officials responded to the crash around 10:30 a.m. Monday, the Schuylkill County Office of Emergency Management said, according to the Associated Press.
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The crash in northeast Pennsylvania also sparked a large fire involving multiple vehicles, Pennsylvania State Trooper David Beohm wrote on Twitter.
The initial cause of the crash is still under investigation, but officials believe it started due to the squall affecting visibility, said John Blickley, deputy emergency management coordinator.
Video footage shared on social media of the crash shows snow on the roadway and poor visibility as several cars slide into one another.
UNBELIEVABLE video of a pileup in Schuylkill County as snow squalls brought visibility on Interstate 81 down to near zero. Video shot live by Mike Moye (Facebook) pic.twitter.com/q1BxgUYz2O
— Joe Holden (@JoeHoldenCBS3) March 28, 2022
A portion of I-81 has been shut down as emergency responders work to clear the scene. Reunification for those involved in the crash was set up nearby at the Goodwill Fire Company in Minersville.
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Snow squalls are described as a brief period of heavy snow and wind that reduces visibility, according to the Weather Channel.
The Schuylkill County Coroner and Pennsylvania state police did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
