Visibility Obscured by Blizzard... At Least 50-Vehicle Pileup on US Highway

At Least 3 Dead, Over 20 Injured
Truck Spins 180 Degrees After Collision... Another Truck Catches Fire

A 50-vehicle pileup occurred on a highway in Pennsylvania, USA, due to a blizzard. Photo by AP/Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kang Wooseok] On a highway in Pennsylvania, USA, over 50 vehicles were involved in a chain collision amid a severe snowstorm, resulting in at least 3 deaths and more than 20 injuries.

According to foreign media including the AP News on the 28th (local time), the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation reported that around 10:30 a.m., a major traffic accident involving over 50 vehicles occurred on Interstate 81 passing through Schuylkill County.

The site had very poor visibility due to the snowstorm, causing drivers to fail to notice the accident ahead and continue colliding. According to videos posted on social media, when a semi-trailer hit a large dump truck, a loud noise was heard and the truck spun about 180 degrees; another large truck emitted black smoke and caught fire.

Mike Moye, who filmed the footage, said, "This is an unbelievable situation. The mix of snow and fog reduced visibility to zero," adding, "There was even a fire on the road. We need to evacuate."

The Schuylkill County coroner's office has confirmed 3 fatalities so far and indicated that the number of casualties may increase due to the many vehicles burned in the fire.

The exact cause of the initial accident has not been determined, but authorities believe that limited visibility caused by the snowstorm and slippery roads are likely the main factors behind the chain collision.

Earlier, the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) had forecasted "very limited visibility due to several short and intense snow squalls."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.