35-car pileup shuts down snowy N.H. highway

Two huge pileups Friday involving at least 35 cars shut down a slippery, snow-covered section of I-93 near Ashland, N.H., for almost four hours, according to state police.

In one of the incidents, a small sedan hit a tractor-trailer that was carrying shoes, causing the truck to burst into flames, according to WMUR-TV reporter Heather Hamel at the scene.

Photos posted by motorist Ben Baldwin on Instagram show large flames leaping from the side of the truck.

State police say there have been multiple injuries, but none that are believed to be serious, NECN-TV reports.

The Middleton. N.H., police department said on its Facebook page that the Interstate was closed from Exit 22 North and that state police had requested motorists to avoid the area. .

Numerous tow trucks were dispatched to the crash site, bringing back cars with damage ranging from broken mirrors to total destruction.

The collisions were triggered by a snow squall Friday morning that moved into the area creating low icy roads and low visibility. Weather in the area at late morning was reported to be 29 degrees with light snow. The roadway re-opened shortly before 2 p.m. ET.

Contributing: Doyle Rice in McLean, Va.