Several people were hospitalized after an accident involving several trucks and passenger vehicles on a highway near Oklahoma City, according to Fox 25’s Connor Hansen.
The Oklahoma Highway Patrol and the Department of Public Security told Hansen that the highway could be closed for up to 8 hours.
FORT WORTH ACCIDENT LEAVES 6 DEAD, DOUBLE DAMAGES IN A STACK OF 133 VEHICLES ON THE INTERSTATE AFTER THE ICE STORM
In a tweet, the agency said the accident occurred on the West Turner Turnpike, near Post Road, and that traffic is being diverted on Hogback Road. Westbound traffic is being diverted to the Kickapoo Turnpike and eastbound traffic to the Turner Turnpike is being diverted to Interstate 35.
“Just a reminder – don’t leave if you don’t have to,” warned the agency.
The Oklahoma National Guard confirmed in a tweet that guards are on site transporting injured drivers and providing first aid as needed.
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The accident came after Oklahoma declared a state of emergency for its 77 counties due to adverse weather conditions.
“Conditions range from light blasts of snow to heavy snow drifting on Oklahoma’s highways this afternoon, causing further travel delays,” said the state Department of Transportation in a 4 pm weather update. “Oklahoma Department of Transportation teams continue to plow and clean up operations 24 hours a day and are asking the public to postpone the trip at dusk as this is probably the worst point for conditions since the storm began.”
If travel is necessary, drivers are asked to stay about 60 meters behind road cleaning equipment, allow extra space between vehicles to provide adequate braking distance and to be patient and allow extra time to reach destinations.
The Oklahoma City accident attributed to icy conditions is just the latest in a series of accidents in recent days, including the deadly pile-up of 133 cars in Forth Worth, Texas, which killed six people and injured dozens.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.