INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA — A massive 45-vehicle pileup brought all westbound lanes of Interstate 70 to a complete standstill Saturday afternoon in Vigo County, prompting state authorities to warn drivers to stay off the roads as snow continued to fall.

The incident unfolded near mile marker 15, close to Tabortown Street and just east of the Terre Haute International Airport. Indiana State Police said the chain-reaction crashes began shortly before 12:40 p.m., with vehicles continuing to slide into the wreck until troopers, firefighters, and highway crews shut down the interstate. ISP Public Information Officer Sgt. Matt Ames said in a 1:35 p.m.  Facebook update that cleanup was expected to take “at least six hours” due to the scale of the collision.

Despite the extensive damage, police confirmed that no major injuries were reported, describing the outcome as remarkably fortunate considering the conditions.

Indiana State Police initially believed the crash involved 20–30 vehicles, but the total climbed to 45 vehicles as additional slide-offs occurred. Snowfall intensified throughout the afternoon with wind gusts reaching up to 35 mph, creating slick roads as a winter weather advisory remained in effect. Ames urged motorists to avoid travel and emphasized slowing down, wearing seat belts, and exercising caution when snow begins to accumulate.

Emergency response teams from multiple agencies rushed to the scene. The Riley Fire Department, which assisted with the rescue and cleanup operation, stated on Facebook that this was the “largest wreck” the department had ever handled. Troopers and firefighters spent nearly six hours removing debris and damaged vehicles from the roadway, finally restoring traffic flow around 7 p.m. While the westbound lanes suffered the worst of the conditions, the eastbound side of I-70 experienced several slide-offs but no large-scale collisions.

Authorities reminded drivers that even moderate snowfall can create hazardous conditions leading to sudden, large-scale crashes. With winter weather intensifying across the region, officials urged Hoosiers to remain vigilant and avoid unnecessary travel.

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