Multiple deaths in pileup on snowy USA highway

Emergency personnel work at the scene of a crash near Fredericksburg, Pa., Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016.

The crash, 120km (75miles) north-west of Philadelphia, left trucks and cars strewn across three lanes of traffic and the central reservation.

At least three people died and dozens more were transported to hospitals after drifting snow Saturday morning caused a 40- to 50-vehicle pileup on Interstate 78 in Lebanon County.

A Pennsylvania State Trooper confirmed to ABC News that three people were killed in the crash.

The eastbound lanes of the interstate were opened just before 5 a.m. on Sunday, followed by the westbound lanes at 7 a.m., pennlive.com reported. Three were in critical condition, three were moderate to severe, and four had minor injuries, hospital spokeswoman Megan Manlove said.

It is believed that weather played a factor, as a snow squall struck the area around the time of the accident.

An amount of 73 people were injured and taken to at least 10 different hospitals.

Forty people have been taken to hospital following the crash, which occurred outside Harrisburg and closed both lanes of the I-78 highway. Raul Jardine of nearby Allentown was hit from behind in Saturday’s pileup even though he slowed down when he saw the brake lights on cars ahead of him.

State police, the Red Cross and other government agencies coordinated on the emergency response, according to officials, who also warned drivers to take care as snow drifts have formed.

On its website, Penn State said that the team’s chartered bus was struck by a tractor-trailer near Frystown, in Lebanon County. Authorities say multiple injuries have been reported.

“We’re keeping them warm, keeping them fed and hopefully going to provide them with some rental cars”, Trooper Justin Summa said.