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200 Vehicles Involved in Pileup South of Montreal

Associated Press

   MONTREAL - Canadian police said Wednesdaythat suddenwhiteout conditions
   most likely triggered a massive pileup involving about 200 vehicles
   south of Montreal.

   There were no immediate reports of deaths,but Quebec provincial police
   said about a dozen people were sent to hospitalswith minor to serious
   injuries after the midday crash in La Prairie, Quebec.

   Firefighters from La Prairie said two people were still trapped
   Wednesday afternoon,and authorities were trying to stabilize a diesel
   spill before extracting them from the wreckage.

   Those two peoplewere considered to bein serious condition.

   The crash occurred around 12:30 p.m. on a stretch of Highway 15 that
   runs along the St. Lawrence River. The pileup of vehicles stretched for
   about a kilometer.

   Strong winds

   Transport Minister FrancoisBonnardeltold reporters in Quebec City the
   pileup took place in an area where heavy winds come off the river,
   creating sudden blizzard-like conditions.

   ``People were driving, there were strong winds ... and, suddenly, you
   couldn't see anything,''Bonnardelsaid. ''And then, well, the pileup
   started.''

   Two snow removal operations took place in the area in the hour before
   the incident, he noted.

   Bonnardelsaid the highway isn't known forparticular safetyissues and
   65,000 vehicles use the southbound part of it daily.

   The transport minister said he'dawait the results of an investigation
   before deciding if any measures neededto be taken.

   Dozens need towing

   Police spokesman SergeantStephane Tremblay said about 50 vehicles were
   able to drive away from the collision, but 75 others would need to be
   towed. Numerous vehicles were mangled, including several large trucks.

   About 150 people were taken by bus to a nearby community center for
   treatment and to be picked up.

   Tremblay said police crash experts wouldstudy what caused the pileup.

   A school bus was also involved in the pileup, but none of the high
   school students on board were injured, said Andree Laforest, the
   province's acting public security minister.

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