Tragedy struck on Interstate 40 near Williams, Arizona, where a multi-car collision involving tractor-trailers claimed the lives of three individuals on Thursday afternoon. According to FOX 10 Phoenix, the accident occurred around 3:25 p.m. and subsequently led to the closure of both directions of the heavily trafficked interstate at milepost 159, as officials embarked on their clean-up and investigative efforts.

The incident has compounded issues for local travelers already struggling with the complications posed by substantial snowfall that has blanketed the northern region of the state. This information has been critical for those planning journeys through the affected areas, including closures on State Route 89A and Interstate 17 due to the snow, as per FOX 10 Phoenix.

With road conditions deteriorating and safety concerns mounting, motorists have been advised to exercise extreme caution when traveling, particularly during the treacherous winter storms, as stated by AZFamily. The report included images from the Arizona Department of Public Safety, depicting at least one semi-truck engulfed in flames, and snow covering the freeway which set a grim stage for the day’s tragic events.

Investigations into the cause of the crash remain ongoing with no definitive answers yet. Found 20 miles east of the deadly collision, there had been another crash involving semi-trucks, where crews with the Ponderosa Fire Department executed a daring rescue pulling a victim to safety, who was then hospitalized with serious injuries, AZFamily noted. Due to the crash and slide-offs, the crucial artery of I-40 was blocked for about 2 miles. The repercussions of the storm have gone far beyond the incident near Williams, causing partial closures of Interstate 40 near Kingman, Ash Fork, and Winslow, as well as other northern Arizona freeways.