Dozens of cars snarled in fiery pileup on snowy Pennsylvania interstate, cops say

Dozens of vehicles crashed and piled up during a snow squall on Interstate 81 in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, killing at least three, injuring multiple others and igniting a large fire, according to media outlets and Pennsylvania State Police.

Three people are confirmed dead in the Monday, March 28, pileup, but that number could rise, according to The Associated Press. State police said in a statement that 50 to 60 vehicles were involved and they could not yet confirm fatalities, and the county coroner could not be immediately reached.

Pennsylvania State Trooper David Beohm said in a tweet posted early on Tuesday, March 29, that due to extensive damage and continued cleanup, authorities are still working to get an accurate number of fatalities.

Twenty-four people were injured and taken to four hospitals in the area, according to a news release from Pennsylvania State Police. Those who were injured but able to walk were taken by bus to a reunification center, according to the statement.

Video shows cars sliding down the snow-covered interstate, colliding with each other and skidding into the woods. One video shows a tractor-trailer on fire with a large plume of black smoke rising into the air as cars continue to skid and crash around it. The fire was continuing to burn at 3 p.m., according to state police.

Interstate 81 is closed between exits 16 and 19, according to Ron Young, a spokesman for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. The interstate remained closed as of Tuesday morning, according to state police.

The pileup occurred at around 11 a.m. Monday during a squall that covered the roads with snow and dramatically reduced visibility, he said.

The National Weather Service issued a snow squall warning for parts of Pennsylvania, advising drivers to exit the road if possible.

“They happen very quickly and visibility gets very limited, sometimes even to zero, within seconds,” Young said. “We can’t stress enough that if a warning does go out, try to get off at the nearest exit.”

This story was originally published March 28, 2022 at 3:44 PM with the headline "Dozens of cars snarled in fiery pileup on snowy Pennsylvania interstate, cops say."