A blast of snow blinded drivers on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, and at least three people were sent to area hospitals after a series of wrecks near the Donegal interchange on Thursday.
Emergency responders were dispatched to near milepost 89 starting at about 1:45 p.m. State police at New Stanton said it appeared that motorists drove into a whiteout as gusts of wind blew snow from the nearby fields onto the road.
Eastbound lanes between the New Stanton and Donegal interchanges remained closed until about 3:45 p.m. as crews worked to clean up the wreckage, police said.
A firefighter said a turnpike-owned truck and state police vehicle that responded to the crash scene were hit by other vehicles.
Police reported 12 vehicles entangled in the snarl of crashes.
Police said Richard E. Bowness, of Belle Vernon, was taken to Excela Health Westmoreland Regional Hospital, Greensburg, after his Ford Explorer was knocked into a concrete barrier by a Honda driven by Fredwin G. Osthoff, of Etna.
A nursing supervisor at the hospital said Bowness and his wife were treated and released.
Ravishankar Muthuswamy, of Belleville, Mich., was transported to Excela Health Frick Hospital, Mt. Pleasant, after his vehicle was rear-ended, police said. Further details about Muthuswamy's condition could not be determined last night.
