BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — A series of crashes on the I-90 between Exit 59 (Dunkirk) and Exit 60 (Westfield) shut down all westbound lanes on Tuesday.
State troopers said that tractor-trailers jackknifed and passenger vehicles were struck as well. Westbound traffic was diverted at Exit 57 (Hamburg), and traffic could be seen winding through Silver Creek.
WATCH: New York State police respond to multiple crashes on I-90 in Chautauqua County
Later on Tuesday, the Fredonia Fire Department said approximately 60 vehicles were involved in crashes over 6-miles of the westbound I-90. State police said two people were taken to the hospital with what are believed to be non-life-threatening injuries.
"Obviously been some major incidents that I've been a part of, but this was, this was an extraordinary event," Fredonia Fire Department Captain Dan Aldrich said.
The New York State Thruway Authority released this statement Wednesday:
"The safety of travelers and our employees is always our top priority. We work very closely with our state and local partners to decide when to close the Thruway. Closing the Thruway can impact localities and their roadways so we coordinate based on safety. We are grateful for our plow drivers and maintenance staff working around the clock, keeping up with the intense snow bands over the last several days."
WATCH: 'Extraordinary event': Approximately 60 vehicles involved in crashes on I-90 in Chautauqua County
The lake-effect storm was causing whiteout conditions and burying northern Chautauqua County and southern Erie County in snow. Travel advisories were in effect for Fredonia, Dunkirk and all of Erie County.
"The snowfall and the whiteout conditions just really magnified the situation we had at hand," Fredonia Fire Chief Josh Myers said. "The conditions came on rapidly. It was snowing just like it is outside, a normal snowstorm, and within minutes had whiteout conditions due to blowing snow, falling snow."
Schools in Dunkirk and Fredonia were closed on Tuesday. SUNY Fredonia postponed the first day of the spring semester, which was supposed to start on Wednesday.
Fredonia Mayor Michael Ferguson said the village board meeting scheduled for Tuesday night was rescheduled for a special meeting at 10 a.m. Wednesday.
