Midwest storm blamed for Wisconsin pileup

MADISON, Wis. -- A storm that brought whiteout conditions to Wisconsin was blamed for two freeway pileups involving more than 50 vehicles Sunday, authorities said. The storm also forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights in Chicago.

The afternoon accidents on the east side of Madison on Interstate 90 occurred after snow had severely reduced visibility, said Kevin Fosso, a Dane County public safety dispatcher supervisor.

Fosso said 42 vehicles were involved in the first accident and about a dozen were involved in the second. No one was killed but about 15 people were injured, some seriously, he said.

Elsewhere in southern Wisconsin, light snow sent dozens of cars skidding off the roads.

"Cars just on every side of the road, in the ditches -- pretty bad," said Nicole LaRussa, who had been driving in Racine County.

In Chicago, the storm forced the cancellation of about 300 flights from O'Hare International Airport and about a dozen from Midway Airport.

The same storm brought icy rain to Indiana. About 6 inches of snow fell in northern Indiana, while in the southern part of the state up to 3 inches of rain was reported.