UPDATED: 1/23/2014 9 p.m.
MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. (CBS) — Three people, including a Chicago man, have been killed in a massive pileup involving at least three dozen vehicles on Interstate 94 near Michigan City, Ind. on Thursday afternoon.
LaPorte County Coroner John Sullivan called the fatal scene — with mangled trucks and cars — “very grim.”
Several vehicles were involved in an accident on Interstate 94 in Michigan City. (Credit: Amy Koza)
As of 5:30 p.m., about three hours after the crash, crews still needed to get to several vehicles crushed underneath the semi-trucks. Authorities initially were afraid that any trapped motorists could fall victim to subzero temperatures but said everyone who was alive and trapped had been rescued by 9 p.m.
The three fatally injured motorists include a Chicago man and a husband and wife from Grand Rapids, Mich.; identities were being withheld Thursday evening, Sullivan said.
More than 20 motorists were injured. Thirteen patients were brought to Franciscan St. Anthony Hospital in Michigan City, Ind. Eight of those had broken bones to scrapes and bruises, CBS 2′s Brad Edwards reports.
One of the motorists who died had been brought there in critical condition.
One entrapped patient was later airlifted to the University of Chicago Medical Center.
Heavy snow and whiteout conditions had been reported in the area at the time of the accident, which happened around 2:30 p.m. The eastbound lanes were shut down between the U.S. 421 (Exit 34) and U.S. 20/35 (Exit 40).
Eastbound traffic was being diverted off the interstate at the Chesterton exit at State Road 49 (Exit 26). Traffic heading westbound was moving, but very slowly.
Thousands were stuck behind the pileup. While being stranded on the road is never fun, in freezing temps it can be dangerous.
Many didn’t have emergency supplies on hand, and motorist Mark Libner says it was just a terrible thing to see.
The crash involved 15 semi-trailer trucks and several passenger vehicles, up to 30 to 36 vehicles in total, police said.
Police expect the eastbound closure to last until Friday.
“We are asking the motoring traffic and people who may want to come out to “see” what is going on to stay away from this area,” State Police spokeswoman Ann Wojas said in an email.
Authorities sent buses to the scene to rescue motorists who are stuck in the extreme cold.
Michigan City provided two city buses, which are being used to transport injured motorists and passengers to area hospitals and for a warming station.
“There are major back-ups in this area and with the conditions and extreme cold we want to make sure we take care of the people who are in this back-up now and not add to it,” Wojas said.
