60-Vehicle Pileup on I-5 in California Closes Roads (VIDEO)
A 60-car pile up took out a stretch of highway on Interstate 5 in California on Tuesday evening.
It was not clear how many cars were involved in the accident, Beth Cousineau, a dispatcher with the California Highway Patrol, said. The accident occurred sometime around 6:15 p.m.
"We're having a hard time telling how many vehicles were actually involved in the accident or how many vehicles were just backed up," she told The Los Angeles Times.
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The accident took place in North Yreka, less than 20 miles away from the California-Oregon border. Few other details were released about the incident and it is unclear just how many people were injured. Some people were taken to nearby hospitals via the paramedics, according to reports.
While no report has been made as to how the build up occurred, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection spokeswoman Julie Hutchinson said that parts of the roadways had been icy.
An updated report revealed that 8 people were sent to the hospital, and according to the highway patrol, one person suffered serious injury. The patrol added that a big rig had lost control on the ice.
"A big rig reportedly lost control on the icy roadway and crashed into a concrete barrier," KNVN reported. "That led to a chain reaction of crashes involving several more cars and semis."
The accident continued to affect roads on Wednesday morning.
"A detour is currently in place at the North Yreka exit," the report stated. "The National Weather Service earlier Tuesday had issued a winter weather advisory for the area."
In addition to the cars, other semis were involved in the pile up.
