CLEVELAND, Ohio — A 46-vehicle pileup on the Ohio Turnpike killed four people Friday and injured many more in a crash that closed the toll road between Sandusky and Fremont, authorities said.
The eastbound lanes of the turnpike remain shut down, and it is unclear when they will open, officials said.
“This is a stark reminder of what can happen when you get behind the wheel and try to drive in bad weather conditions,” said Sgt. Ryan Purpura, a spokesperson for the agency, in a Twitter feed.
Troopers said whiteout conditions prompted the accident, which took place about 1 p.m. in Erie County in the eastbound lanes. Troopers said a series of crashes took place between exits in Fremont and Sandusky.
The westbound lanes of the turnpike were closed from Sandusky to Fremont for much of Friday night. The eastbound lanes remained closed, as crews worked to remove 15 commercial trucks.
Buses took victims of the crash to a warming center to avoid the frigid conditions.
The crash came as winds as high as 60 mph, freezing temperatures and several inches of snow hit northern Ohio on Friday. The wind chill plummeted to 30 below.
Authorities urged residents to stay off the roads, as visibility in some parts of the state was reduced to less than 200 yards.
In Cleveland, police urged drivers to stay off Interstate 90 west into Cleveland. The freeway became icy after winds whipped water onto it from the lake, freezing the westbound side between Eddy Road and East 55th street, police said.