PLAINFIELD —
A more than 30-vehicle pileup on a snowy Indiana interstate left at least 10 people injured Thursday, including at least one critically, and shut down a heavily traveled highway for most of the evening, authorities said.
Most of the injuries in the afternoon pileup along Interstate 70 were minor, but one victim’s condition was “very critical,” Indiana State Police Sgt. Rich Myers said.
Semitrailers sat smashed side-by-side against one another along the stretch about 20 miles west of Indianapolis, with cars and other smaller vehicles pushed to the sides of the roadway. About 20 big rigs and some 15 passenger vehicles were involved in the pileup, Indiana State Police Capt. Dave Bursten said.
Several motorists blinded by a snowsquall crashed into stalled traffic on the slick road, police said.
“We believe weather was a factor,” Bursten said. Snow was falling at the time of the crash and whiteout conditions were possible, along with slick roads, according to the National Weather Service.
The main crash happened at the interstate’s 65-mile marker, but there was a second crash involving at least two jackknifed semitrailer rigs nearby, Indiana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Debbie Calder said.
Bursten said the “epicenter” of the crash was directly below an overpass.
Hours after the pileup, mangled metal and ripped tires remained along the highway’s shoulder even after most of the wreckage had been removed.
At one point, three elephants had to be off-loaded from a vehicle involved in the pileup until the vehicle was righted on the highway, then reloaded for the resumption of their journey, Bursten said. He had no other details on the pachyderms.
All lanes of the heavily traveled east-west freeway were closed for several hours in both directions. State police said eastbound traffic at one point was backed up at least five miles.
Sgt. Rich Myers said the eastbound lanes reopened about 7:30 p.m., more than five hours after the crash. There was no timeline on when the west bound lanes would open late Thursday evening.
Indiana Department of Homeland Security spokesman John Erickson said his agency and the Department of Environmental Management sent hazardous materials crews to the site.
“I think it’s because of fuel spills,” Erickson said.
IDEM spokeswoman Amy Hartsock said auto fluids spilled in the massive crash but no hazardous cargo was involved.
Traffic on nearby U.S. 40 grew heavy with diverted vehicles and several crashes followed.
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Related Photos
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Police and emergency personal work the scene of a pileup involving more than 40-vehicles on Interstate 70 in Plainfield, Ind., Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. The crash closed the interstate in both direction and authorities reported at least seven minor injuries. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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An Indiana State police photo of some of the vehicles involved in a major accident on I-70 in Hendricks County. Indiana State Police
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Police and emergency personal work the scene of a pileup involving more than 40-vehicles on Interstate 70 in Plainfield, Ind., Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. The crash closed the interstate in both direction and authorities reported at least seven minor injuries. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
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Traffic is at a standstill after a pileup of more than 40 vehicles that closed Interstate 70, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013 just west of Indianapolis. Indiana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Debbie Calder says all lanes of I-70 are expected remain closed until at least 10 p.m. She says westbound traffic is being routed onto Indiana 267 and eastbound traffic at Indiana 39. Calder says the main crash occurred at the 55 mile marker, but a second crash involving at least two jackknifed semitrailer rigs occurred nearby. (AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star, Robert Scheer) NO SALES
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Traffic is backed up in both directions of Interstate 70 between Plainfield, Ind. and Monrovia exits after a massive pileup Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Indiana Department of Transportation spokeswoman Debbie Calder says all lanes of I-70 are expected remain closed until at least 10 p.m. She says westbound traffic is being routed onto Indiana 267 and eastbound traffic at Indiana 39. Calder says the main crash occurred at the 55 mile marker, but a second crash involving at least two jackknifed semitrailer rigs occurred nearby. (AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star, Doug McSchooler) NO SALES
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Police and emergency personal work the scene of a pileup involving more than 40-vehicles on Interstate 70 in Plainfield, Ind., Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. The crash closed the interstate in both direction and authorities reported at least seven minor injuries. (AP Photo/Michael Conroy)
Discussion
Whiteout wipeout
30-plus-vehicle pileup injures at least 10 near Plainfield
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