Three people killed in huge 40 car pile-up as snowstorms and ice blast through the US
Cops have blamed the weather for the fatalities on the interstate in Michigan - with several other massive crashes also happening across the country
THREE people have been killed and almost a dozen more injured in a 40-car pile-up caused by icy weather conditions sweeping across the US.
Video footage shows the horrific aftermath of the massive crash, believed to have involved 30-40 vehicles in the mid-western state of Michigan on Thursday.
Kathleen added: "Fortunately, he was able to stop before ploughing into me.
“It probably took about an hour to get through the accident scene."
Forecasters say cold air that's moved into the region is boosting conditions for lake-effect snow which could fall up to a few inches thick in some parts of the state – including in the Detroit area.
The fatal smash in Michigan was just one of several crashes also reported on Detroit-area freeways, and in Ohio authorities said a interstate motorway east of Cleveland was closed after a pileup of about 50 vehicles in snowy conditions shut down the highway for more than 14 hours yesterday.
The Lake County sheriff's office said about 20 people were injured in the chain-reaction crash Thursday.
Highway crews opened the roadway Friday morning after the crash involving a Greyhound bus and over a dozen trucks on Interstate 90.
Bus passenger Greg Carmichael told Fox 8 News he was heading home to Buffalo, New York. He claimed about an hour into the ride the weather conditions worsened and a truck hit the bus from behind, causing a domino-effect crash.
He says several people on the bus were seriously injured.
Elsewhere in the US a wintry mix of snow, ice and rain has covered much of the Northwest, a region that typically lives under a cloud of mist and drizzle.
Seattleites woke up to rare winter powder Friday after an overnight weather system brought up to three inches of snow to the city and other parts of Washington state.
Some schools cancelled classes, while others including Seattle Public Schools have delayed school start time because of the snow.
Strong winds toppled trees, and Portland General Electric reported about 22,000 customers in neighbouring Clackamas County lost power before it was mostly restored, the Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
Forecasters expected a couple inches of snow to stick to the ground, followed by freezing rain, heightening concerns about a treacherous commute in the region that does not use salt on slippery roads.
On Thursday evening, Portland transit service said on Twitter that two light rail lines were disrupted because of ice on overhead power wires. At least one line of bus service had been cancelled, and others were travelling, many with chains, on snow routes.
Freezing rain was also hitting Vancouver, Washington, and more than three inches of snow had fallen at the state capital in Olympia by Thursday evening.
Portland city government also closed, as did federal court, the zoo and state offices in several counties.
Higher snowfall totals were expected in the Coast Range and Columbia River Gorge.
National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Cullen said as much as 10 inches of snow could fall in the Gorge, particularly from Cascade Locks toward Hood River.
Wintry weather also swept through Central Oregon.
The Columbian reported that two people were injured when trees fell into houses one in Vancouver and another in Camas.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368