Massive Arizona Pileup Kills At Least Two

Dozens Of Vehicles Collide On A Snowy Highway, Shutting It Down For 20 Miles

(AP)  Dozens of vehicles collided in heavy, blinding snow on a northern Arizona interstate Sunday, killing at least two people, critically injuring 11 others and forcing authorities to close the highway for 20 miles in both directions.

The low visibility on Interstate 40 near Flagstaff caused about 20 collisions, which occurred over a stretch of highway at least 4 miles long around noon, Flagstaff Fire Department Chief Mark Wilson said.

He described the wrecks as clumps of vehicles piled on top of each other, involving cars, trucks and semis.

"The magnitude of it was pretty severe," Wilson said. "We had a whiteout scene with the snow, and obviously a single-vehicle accident caused multiple-vehicle accidents, which continued to pile up due to the low visibility."

While the state public safety department said three people were killed, Wilson said there were two. Neither could immediately clear up the confusion.

Wilson said 15 people had to be extracted from their vehicles with hydraulic equipment or hand tools.

Flagstaff Medical Center spokeswoman Starla Addair said the hospital received 53 patients, at least 10 of whom needed to be admitted. She did not know their condition or whether any of the 53 patients had been released.

Red Cross volunteer Gene Munger said about 40 people involved in the wrecks were at a middle school shelter Sunday evening deciding whether to spend the night there on cots or find a hotel.

He said those he talked to described the scene of the accidents as complete chaos. "They're pretty shook up right now," he said.

National Weather Service meteorologist Clair Ketchum said whiteout conditions occurred off-and-on Sunday afternoon in the Flagstaff area and could occur overnight as a storm rolls across the state.

Ketchum said 3.8 inches of snow fell by 5 p.m. Sunday near where the collisions occurred.

[Netterz]

About 12 yrs ago, on new years, there was a 180 vehicle pile up, with out one single fatality on I-75, 70 mi. south of the Mackinac Bridge in MI.#1. When swarmed by a white out, start slowing down rapidly, down shift to lower gears, NOT locking up the brakes, turn flashers on.#2 Get to the closest shoulder right/left. Being stuck/shoved in a ditch is MUCH better if in the path of a blinded semi. #3 NEVER STOP IN A LANE. (If you have no choice, try to position your vehicle to be pushed into a ditch, instead of the car in front of you.) Keep moving, creep along, you will feel it if you are going off the road. WATCH! (using mirrors) around you, for people, vehicles, headlights and tail lights to prevent more injuries. #4 STAY INSIDE YOUR VEHICLE! Its the safest place you can be. Being snowmobilers, &trained CPR and crisis management civil servants, there quick & safely, dog sleds full of med supplies, cases of hand/feet warmers & blankets, always packed and ready, we helped transport families from the crash, 3 miles to 2 local bars &elementary gym turned into triage. We pulled together as a community to help these people, opened our homes , hotels, restaurants, our transport buses, all free of charge, as well as providing transportation to there destinations or to meet friends/relatives to those devastated and left stuck in a small town most never even knew existed. Bad weather is happening far too often, so be prepared. Mother Nature has PMS. Pizzed @ Mankind Syndrome.

[fgwbush]

we need to begin putting our resources into building more and better highways and bridges for our future generations and far less into our wmd programs.

[cmp271]

Who is going to sue the state the way someone in Rochester NY is going to sue Monroe county, NY, for the 36 car pile up in February. You accept the risk when you get in your car and drive in snow.

How awful for the people in Arizona.

[sumarongi]

I drove trucks OTR coast-to coast for over twenty years in all conditions accident free.Unfortunately, some people drive like idiots even in the best of conditions. Far too many of them feel prepared for anything just because they passed a driver''s license test. Common sense also plays a huge part in driving skills. When you come across white-out conditions, especially in areas where road surfaces are frozen you need to: 1. make sure your lights on and engage your flashers immediately, 2. SLOW DOWN, you cannot see anything, 3. Immediately proceed to the far right lane and stay there at low speed until visibility improves, or 4. At your first opportunity to safely pull off the highway safely, DO IT and get as far out of traffic lanes as safely possible. 5. DO NOT STOP IN A TRAFFIC LANE! Progress under white out conditions is not worth your life. 6. Wait for improved visibility, or for emergency vehicles to arrive before proceeding.

[drinuk]

As in Europe electronic speed limits should be flashed up during adverse conditions, it''s not rocket science. Those ignoring warnings get banned and suffer a tripling of fines, even a prison sentence, What price a Life ??

[tbweb]

In situations like this the State Police should be the first car in the line with lights flashing not allowing any drivers to pass them, forcing a slower speed, because left to their own devices drivers will still attempt to drive fast which is stupid resulting in accidents like this one, it happens all the time!