At least 12 people across the US have been killed — including four in a nasty 50-car pileup crash in Ohio — as a wicked bomb cyclone wreaked havoc with snow, sub-zero temperatures and high winds.
Three people died in weather-related crashes in Oklahoma, while another three were killed on icy roads in Kentucky, Fox Weather reported.
Another person was killed after their vehicle overturned in Missouri, and a person in Texas died after prolonged exposure to the frigid temperatures.
In Ohio, at least four people were killed and several others were injured in a massive, 50-car pileup Friday amid treacherous “whiteout conditions,” the Ohio State Highway Patrol said.
The first of numerous crashes occurred around 11:45 a.m. between State Route 53 and State Route 4 in Sandusky and Erie Counties, officials told WTVG.
The major pileup began forming after a second crash around 12:30 p.m., officials said. Ultimately “approximately 50 vehicles [were] involved,” OSHP Sgt. Ryan Purpura said in a video statement.
The identities of the victims have not been released. The exact number of injuries is unknown.
Purpura said drivers were experiencing “whiteout conditions” on the road amid heavy winds and snow.
OSHP said responders were bussing people from their vehicles to a local facility to stay warm from the subzero temperatures.
“This is going to be ongoing for a while,” an OSHP spokesperson told WTVG. “There are a lot of troopers and first responders out there working through this.”
OHSHP also responded to a fatal crash on County Road 49 near Huntsville about 80 miles to the south of the pileup.
Officials have asked that people remain in their homes if they can help it. If drivers must go out, he asked them to take it slow, increase their following distance and to buckle up.
“Our sympathy goes to those families who have lost a loved one during this severe weather situation in Ohio,”Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said in a statement.
“The road conditions continue to be very dangerous across the state, with white outs and extremely cold temperatures continuing. Please continue to remain home if at all possible and be vigilant with these extremely dangerous road conditions”
Police said they are still investigating the crash.
It’s not clear when the crash scene will be clear. The road remains closed in both directions, WTVG reported.
