Thirty-five people injured in 63-vehicle pileup on Virginia highway

[December 23, 2019]    (Reuters) - Thirty-five people were hurt in a 63-vehicle, chain-reaction crash on a foggy and icy stretch of a Virginia highway early on Sunday, state police said.

All westbound lanes of Interstate 64 in York County, Virginia, about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Richmond, remained closed Sunday afternoon as authorities worked at the scene of the pileup, which began shortly before 8 a.m. EST, the Virginia State Police said on Twitter.

Damaged vehicles are seen after a chain reaction crash on I-64 in York County, Virginia, U.S. December 22, 2019. VA State Police/via REUTERS

Fog and icy conditions were present on the road at the time of the accident, police said in a tweet.

"#VSP investigation continues into 63-vehicle chain reax crashes," the police tweeted. "35 transported for treatment. No fatalities reported."

The injuries ranged from minor to life-threatening, the police tweeted.

Video footage of the scene showed a sea of cars that had collided with one another or the interstate barricade, some with their doors, trunks and bumpers mangled.

A representative for the state police could not immediately be reached for comment.

(Reporting by Gabriella Borter; Editing by Paul Simao)

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