A deadly pileup of more than 100 vehicles left five people dead and several others trapped in their cars on Interstate 35W in Fort Worth, Texas, Thursday morning.
After freezing rain and sleet made road conditions slippery and wet, the massive pileup led officials to close all lanes of the interstate starting from the 28th Street bridge near downtown.
According to CBS 11 News, emergency responders are referring to the crash as a “mass casualty incident.”
Dallas-Fort Worth CBS reporter Madison Sawyer tweeted images of the scene, showing dozens of vehicles smashed, flipped over and stacked on top of each other.
“Update from [Fort Worth Police Department] 3 fatalities have been confirmed. Number of injuries are unknown, emergency crews still actively working the accident. A reunification center regarding this accident has been set up at the Riverside Community Center at 3700 E Belknap St.,” the reporter tweeted.
Jason McLaughlin with Dallas-Fortworth CBS shared footage of the scene of the devastating scene on his Twitter account.
“Here at the scene in North Fort Worth of one of the worse disasters I have ever seen in this area. Pray. Pray hard,” he tweeted.
In one intense video, a semi-truck with a trailer can be seen crashing into a group of vehicles already stopped on the freeway, followed closely by several more cars who appear to be unable to stop.
“WOW! I have never seen a pileup this bad in DFW since I’ve been here. Look at the images I just received from the terrible pileup in [Fort Worth] this morning,” another user tweeted. “Please AVOID this area. Some drivers have been stuck in traffic four 1.5 hours.”
Another Twitter user shared video of multiple personal vehicles and several eighteen-wheelers smashing into each other on the icy roads.
Several ambulances were sent to the scene, and CBS reported that dozens of patients have been transported to hospitals in unknown conditions.
Rescuers noted that they are experiencing difficulty reaching multiple victims due to the pileup of vehicles.
No emergency personnel have been injured at the scene.
Social media users have been posting photos of the pileup to advise others in the area to stay home, noting the icy and treacherous driving conditions.
“Be safe out there,” one Twitter user said, sharing photos of a tractor trailer leaning on its side and surrounded by several crushed cars. “Praying for all involved.”
Fort Worth Police tweeted that drivers should expect “lengthy delays,” adding, “If you are involved in a minor accident with no injuries, please exchange information and continue on safely. You can then notify your insurance when you arrive at your destination.”
