Massive pileup shuts down I-78 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

By Heather Janssen, AccuWeather.com Staff Writer

February 13,2016; 11:27PM,EST

 

 

A multi-vehicle accident involving more than 50 vehicles occurred amid snow showers and brutal cold and led to the shutdown of Interstate 78 in Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, Saturday morning.
The accident was reported around 9:45 a.m. Saturday EST. Both eastbound and westbound lanes have been closed due to the accident, according to PennDOT 511.
"Weather reports from nearby Fort Indiantown Gap indicate persistent snow showers during the 8 a.m. EST hour with a few snow showers during the 9 a.m. EST hour," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
(Twitter Photo/AshFisher06)
Several ambulances, rescue units and four medical helicopters were dispatched to the crash site, according to Penn Live. Three people are reportedly dead.
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said that an emergency operation center was activated as well as a shelter set up, according to The Associated Press.
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First responders and crash victims will face dangerous cold at the site of the multi-vehicle accident.
AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures will be below zero the rest of day.
"Such cold will be dangerous to those who are not properly bundled up," Pydynowski said. "Hypothermia and frostbite are both risks."
Additional flurries will also be streaming into south-central Pennsylvania throughout the day.