TOWN OF LAFAYETTE, NEW YORK — A weather-related chain-reaction crash involving about 30 vehicles shut down Interstate 81 southbound Thursday afternoon south of Syracuse, sending seven people to area hospitals, according to New York State Police.

Troopers said they were called around 2:20 p.m. to the southbound lanes of I-81 near Exit 73 in the Town of LaFayette for the multi-vehicle pileup.

State police said the preliminary investigation found the primary crash involved approximately 18 vehicles, including three tractor-trailers. Additional smaller crashes occurred nearby, bringing the total to about 30 vehicles involved.

Officials said four people were taken to Crouse Hospital and three were transported to Upstate University Hospital in Syracuse. Police said two people suffered serious injuries, but they were not considered life-threatening.

Troopers said uninjured motorists were transported from the scene to the LaFayette Fire Department using a CENTRO bus.

Authorities said I-81 southbound at Exit 73 was expected to remain closed for several hours as crews cleared the scene, with reopening projected around 7 p.m. Police also said one northbound lane at Exit 67 in Tully reopened around 5 p.m.

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