A 'massive' pileup on Thursday shut down the state's largest interstate as holiday travel turned tragic. Officials point the finger at the hazardous road conditions, slicked by freezing rain.
Published Dec. 23, 2021 11:09 AM EST | Updated Dec. 24, 2021 7:42 AM EST
A massive pileup unfolded on Interstate 94 in Wisconsin around 5:45 a.m. CST on Thursday, shutting down the highway before the Thursday morning commute.
Initial reports suggested that over 100 vehicles were involved in the crash, which occurred in west-central Wisconsin south of Eau Claire. However, State Patrol Lt. Tim Weiberg later said that the actual number of vehicles involved was closer to 40, according to The Associated Press.
Miraculously, there were no injuries or fatalities, according to the Wisconsin State Patrol.
All driveable vehicles involved in the incident were removed by Thursday evening, though east and west-bound traffic continued to be detoured as emergency crews continue to remove damaged vehicles. As the evening continued, a single lane in both directions of I-94 was reopened around 8 p.m., local time.
Tractor trailers were mangled on Interstate 94 on Thursday, Dec. 23, 2021, after a pileup. (Wisconsin State Patrol)
"Freezing rain caused icy / hazardous road conditions this morning," Wisconsin State Patrol said. Icy conditions were reported on other major roads across the region as well.
"Temperatures were about 23 degrees and the wind was light," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Bob Smerbeck said. "A band of sleet and freezing rain moving out of Minnesota intensified right over Eua Claire and iced up the roads."
Weather radar around 6:45 a.m. CST Thursday showed a batch of wintry weather across central Wisconsin, including the area of the crash.
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Weather radar across central Wisconsin showed sleet and freezing rain (pink and purple) around the time of Thursday's pileup. (AccuWeather)
By early Thursday evening, the system was delivering mostly snow as it departed from Wisconsin, traveling into Michigan, northwestern Pennsylvania and western New York. The storm continued to deliver snow north of Pittsburgh and mainly west of State College, PA Thursday night. Into early Friday morning, snow showers coated roadways and sidewalks across central New York, central and eastern Pennsylvania, and far western Massachusetts.
By late Thursday evening, I-94 motorists were no longer being detoured and a lane in both eastbound and westbound directions was open to traffic. Crash scene cleanup was expected to be completed overnight Thursday, according to Wisconsin DOT.
Another batch of wintry weather is predicted to spread across northern Wisconsin early on Friday, which could lead to more icy roads for holiday travelers.
People that need to travel in wintry conditions should do so cautiously and allow for extra time to reach their destination.
Continue to check back with AccuWeather for updates on this situation.
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