A crash involving more than 100 vehicles in Portland, Ore., during “whiteout conditions” closed Interstate 84 on Thursday.
Cars, semitrucks and other vehicles were piled up along the snow-covered roadway, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office, and one SUV erupted into flames.
“Everyone was able to get out of the SUV,” the sheriff’s office said in a social media post. “Responders are going car by car. There are reports of injuries; no number at this time. Whiteout conditions.”
A more than 100-vehicle pileup in whiteout conditions shut down westbound Interstate 84 on Thursday near Multnomah Falls, Ore. (Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office via AP)
The accident occurred shortly before 11 a.m. PT and a westbound, four-mile section of I-84 remains closed west of Multnomah Falls. Eastbound traffic lanes are still open.
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“Road conditions on I-84 in the affected areas are considered slick, but passable,” the Oregon Department of Transportation said in a statement. “This series of crashes was caused by a combination of high winds blowing snow and drivers traveling too fast for the winter weather conditions in the area.”
With reports of people stuck inside of their cars, police asked motorists to remain inside their vehicles until alerted that it was safe to exit, Fox 12 News reported.
The crash was one of several multi-vehicle pileups reported Thursday as a winter storm dropped snow across northern Oregon and southern Washington.
