Chain-reaction pileup leaves one person dead

ERIE, Pa. -- As many as 100 cars and tractor-trailers were involved in a series of chain-reaction crashes Wednesday during heavy snow on Interstate 90.

At least one person died and 13 were injured, officials said.

Officials closed a five-mile stretch of the highway just south of Erie, in northwestern Pennsylvania, an area known for severe weather.

"It is snowing, blowing, the roads are ice-covered," said Dick Schau, a spokesman for the EmergyCare ambulance service. "There is poor visibility and you can't see in front of you," he said.

One accident involved at least 20 cars and numerous, said state Police Cpl. Mark Zaleski said. Troopers responding to the crash found other multi-car crashes about every 150 yards along the way, Zaleski said.