A massive pileup of 30 vehicles on the Yellowstone River Bridge in Billings, Montana, seriously injured two people on Saturday, according to authorities.
The individuals jumped off the bridge during the accident to avoid being hit by a car, which Montana Highway Patrol tweeted. Both were hospitalized, but are expected to recover. Mild injuries have also been reported, but no deaths.
“I would say this is the biggest pileup, and winter accident, that I have seen in my nearly 20 years with the fire department,” Billings fire chief Jason Lyon told the Billings Gazette.
Montana Justice Department communications director Kyler Nerison told NBC News that the cause of the multiple vehicle accident was “the white / zero visibility conditions caused by a sudden snowstorm”.
The incident occurred west of I-90, and the runway was closed until approximately 4:30 pm while soldiers were investigating, Nerison said.
A driver, Bella Contreraz, told the Billings Gazette that she hit the brakes when she saw vehicles stopped in front of her. Another semi-truck that was approaching shortly after hit its car and left it stuck at the side of the bridge. A nearby driver helped her escape by opening her door, she said.
“It was like bumper cars,” said Contreraz.
The National Weather Service in Billings issued a statement on Saturday about heavy snowfall in the area, warning drivers that I-90 would be affected and that there would likely be slippery road conditions and reduced visibility.