Mammoth Winter Storm Caused at Least 100 Vehicle Crashes and Pileup in Oregon

During a massive snowstorm, over 100 automobiles collide in pileups. On Monday, the front edge of a train of winter storms moving across the country dumped snow on sections of the northern United States.

This winter storm caused hazardous driving conditions on highways in eastern Oregon and parts of North Dakota, resulting in dangerous multi-car collisions and highway closure

According to an emergency notice issued by the Oregon State Police, troopers responding to a multi-vehicle incident on Interstate 84 between Pendleton, Oregon, and La Grande, Oregon, could hear further crashes occurring behind them as circumstances worsened.

(Photo : Getty Images)

"The accident is expected to involve between 15-20 automobiles and trucks, with early estimates putting the total number of vehicles involved in the region at 98," according to the warning. I-84 was closed Monday afternoon due to a massive pileup that happened at 12:20 p.m. CST, according to police

As of Tuesday morning, the route was remained blocked. According to The Oregonian, that stretch of roadway, known locally as Cabbage Hill, is infamous for bad winter weather. Large collisions, as well as motorway closures that strand motorists, are relatively regular in the area.

Emergency medical personnel were treating injured individuals on the scene when the alarm was issued, but they were unable to determine the overall number of casualties.

Related Article: Cross-Country Winter Storms to Freeze Many Areas Throughout US This Week

Multi Vehicle Collisions in North Dakota

Meanwhile, in North Dakota, near-whiteout conditions prompted a multi-vehicle collision on I-94 near Casselton, resulting in several casualties.

AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Paul Walker said northerly winds of 20-30 mph with gusts to 40 mph caused whiteout conditions in North Dakota on Monday, with visibility reduced to less than a quarter of a mile and at times approaching nil.

Strong gusts and heavy snow combined to reduce visibility to a quarter-mile at 11 a.m. CST when the North Dakota Highway Patrol reported that workers responded to the collision.

The rescue took place with at least 30 degrees below zero degrees Fahrenheit, thanks in part to the Casselton Volunteer Fire Department.

According to KX News, the accident involved 14 automobiles and wounded at least six persons. I-94 was remained blocked as of Tuesday morning.

As rescuers urgently struggle to remove individuals from their automobiles, video footage shows terrible circumstances with heavy snowfall falling. The National Weather Service reported around 4.4 inches of snowfall in Fargo, about 25 miles distant, by midnight Monday night.

Winter Storm

Winter storm is a storm in which the precipitation falls as snow. Because the temperatures at the top of the storm are low enough to generate snowflakes, most rain falls as snow among the clouds in the winter.

Snowflakes are formed when water vapor condenses into droplets and freezes, resulting in a cluster of ice crystals.

These ice crystals bond together as they fall to the earth, making snowflakes. The precipitation will fall as snow if the air temperature between the cloud and the ground remains at or below 0°C. The precipitation will melt into the rain or freezing rain if the air temperature near the ground is above freezing.

Overexertion during winter storms increases the risk of automobile accidents, hypothermia, frostbite, carbon monoxide poisoning, and heart attacks. Blizzards and other winter storms can bring cold, freezing rain, snow, ice, and powerful winds.

Also Read: Exposure to Major Disasters Can Cause Long-Term Mental Health Problems 

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