5 dead in pileup on icy roads in U.S. Texas

At least five people were killed and a massive pileup was caused during a serious traffic accident Thursday morning in north Texas, the United States, reported Xinhua, quoting local media.

According to KXAS-TV and Dallas Morning News reports, on the interstate highway north of downtown Fort Worth, about 100 vehicles were involved in a pileup. Fort Worth Fire Department spokesman Michael Drivdahl said at least five people died and 36 injured people had been transported to local hospitals.

Drivdahl said the accident was likely caused by ice roads. Rescue crews continued to assist at the multiple accident scenes, searching injured people vehicle by vehicle.

A video posted on social media showed that dozens of vehicles piled up on the road, with several 18-wheelers and tractor-trailers involved. Some vehicles were crushed in the pileup and badly damaged.

Hazardous conditions brought on by winter weather was blamed as a factor in the crashes. Freezing rain in the region caused roads to glaze over with ice.

In Austin, 100 miles to the south of the accident, winter weather was also blamed for a massive pileup along a busy road involving at least 26 vehicles, according to the Austin American Statesman.

A winter weather advisory is in effect in parts of North Texas as the National Weather Service said freezing rain and sleet would continue through the morning.