Winter weather causes 50 car pile up in Virginia

All lanes on I-64 westbound in Williamsburg, VA opened this afternoon after emergency personnel spent most of the morning clearing a 50 car pile up.

No fatalities were reported in the large scale incident, but seven people were taken to the hospital with minor injuries following the pile up. “Whiteout conditions” are believed to be responsible for the multi-car crash, and “emergency personnel and road crews statewide as well as Gov. McDonnell” are requesting that local residents steer clear of roads and stay at home if possible.

Conditions are not much better in surrounding areas:

State police have responded to hundreds of highway crashes, including more than 25 separate incidents along a stretch of Interstate 64 from Williamsburg to Newport News.

Firefighters on the scene of the massive pile up called the incident “one of the worst accidents they’ve ever seen.” In addition to the multiple wrecks and disabled vehicles, traffic was reportedly backed up for roughly twelve miles in both directions during today’s commute.