40-vehicle pileup shuts down part of 1-93

At least 8 people have been reported injured as a result of a massive pileup on Saturday afternoon. Police said about 40 vehicles, including a small school bus and a commercial tour bus, were involved in the pileup, which blocked both southbound lanes of Interstate 93.

The pileup was the result of a snow squall that started around 12:30 p.m., triggering sudden whiteout conditions.

Tom Lawson and his girlfriend, Jennifer Phillips, were heading to Boston after staying at a Lincoln, NH inn most of the week snowboarding in the region. Phillips, who lives on Cape Cod, was glad the couple escaped unharmed except for the damaged Hyundai rental.

Phillips was surprised when the snow squall hit.

“Everything just went white, and you couldn’t see anything, and the cars were backed up on each other,” Phillips said while waiting at the Sunoco station. “I love snow, but I didn’t love that.”

Both lanes of the highway were shut down for over an hour and traffic was backed up for miles.

The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency estimates that roughly “70% of winter deaths related to snow and ice occur in automobiles,” and, as a result, has issued a list of automobile safety tips for winter driving as well as a winter emergency car kit checklist. Both can be found on their website.

Source:
Eight injured in 40-vehicle pileup on I-93, Union Leader, January 8, 2011; Tips to Ensure Safe Winter Driving, www.mass.gov
The Massachusetts car accident lawyers at Altman & Altman can advise you if you have been injured on the road.

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