6 taken to hospital in TCH pileup involving 15 vehicles near Birchy Narrows

Six people were rushed to hospital Monday two of them with serious injuries after a massive collision that involved numerous cars and trucks on theTrans-Canada Highway on Newfoundland's west coast.

The 15-vehicle pileup included three tractor-trailers.

Four of the six people taken to hospital have injuries that are not thought to put their lives at risk, theRCMPsaid early Monday afternoon.

The TCH near BirchyNarrows was closed around 10:45 a.m.

Up to eight ambulances responded tothe scene, in addition to police officers from three different detachmentsand fire fighters from three different municipalities.

Traffic had been backed up at least half a kilometre.

Shortlyafter 4 p.m.,one lane of the highway had re-opened to traffic. But police warned drivers that whiteout conditions and high winds were ongoing and to expect delays.

Tow trucks have not yet arrived to the crash site, police said.

RCMP Cpl. Jolene Garland told CBC Radio's On The Go it was one of, if not the biggest, traffic pileups she can remember.

She said while the investigation is continuing into exactly what caused it, the whiteout conditions and high winds are likely major contributing factors.

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