UPI
St. Louis — At least 31 cars and two tractor-trailers were involved in a chain-reaction crash early Wednesday in St. Louis as vehicles skidded on icy roads.
The Fire Department said two pumpers and two ambulances also skidded, KTVI reported. At least 26 people were hurt badly enough to be transported to hospitals.
Highway officials said the road conditions were a surprise, as freezing rain moved into the area around 4 a.m., the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. Getting the salt spreaders into action took some time because highway employees were out trying to fill potholes from previous winter storms.
Accuweather.com said the storm was moving east and would bring dangerous conditions in some Midwestern cities into Thursday morning.
In St. Louis, drivers involved in the pileup said they felt helpless. Patience Rhodes told the Post-Dispatch she shut her eyes as she skidded towards a jack-knifed semi.
“If I’m going to go, I don’t want to see it,” she said.
Rhodes walked away from the crash with some back and shoulder pain, but her car, nicknamed “Melanie,” appeared to be a total loss.
“She’s ready to go — straight to the junkyard. RIP Melanie,” Rhodes said.
The eastbound side of Interstate 64 was shut down for more than 4 hours after the 5 a.m. pileup.
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