Sudden storm in the US, 100 vehicles, including heavy trucks, collided with each other

A snowstorm has wreaked havoc in the US state of Michigan, causing over 100 vehicles, including 30 heavy trucks, to collide on icy roads. In Michigan, more than 100 vehicles crashed into each other or slid off the road on an interstate highway after road conditions became extremely hazardous due to a snowstorm. According to Al Jazeera, after the major accident on Monday, the Michigan State Police closed Interstate 196 in both directions southwest of Grand Rapids, while authorities worked to remove all vehicles, including more than 30 trailer trucks.

The Michigan State Police said several people were injured in the accidents, but there were no reported fatalities. Images and videos shared on social media and footage published by local media showed a long stretch of the snow-covered highway with trucks and other vehicles piled on top of each other. The accident is the latest incident in the effects of a severe winter storm spreading across the country.

Vehicles were overturned and jackknifed trucks were scattered everywhere, according to videos released by Fox Weather, which showed Highway Interstate 196 completely covered in snow, with winds blowing at 40 miles per hour at the time of the accident and over a foot of snow accumulated in the area.

The US National Weather Service has issued warnings for either severe cold or snowstorms in several states, stretching from northern Minnesota to Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York.

Motorist Pedro Mata Jr. told the Associated Press that before the accident, when he was driving at 20 to 25 miles per hour (32 to 40 kilometers per hour), he could barely see the cars in front of him due to blowing snow on the road. He said he managed to stop his pickup truck safely but then stopped the vehicle in the median to avoid being rear-ended.

Mata said there were sounds of crashing and booming all around, which were very frightening. I could see what was in front of me, but I couldn't see what was happening behind me. Authorities have appealed to motorists to slow down in these 'hazardous conditions, as the region is experiencing continuous snowfall and temperatures are expected to drop to as low as minus 8 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 22 degrees Celsius) with wind chill.

Meteorologists have also warned of a chance of freezing temperatures overnight until Tuesday morning in much of northern central Florida and southeastern Georgia.