Icy roads in Texas cause 'mass casualty incident' with at least 70-car pileup

FORT WORTH, Texas (RADIO.com/AP) - At least five people were killed Thursday in a massive crash involving 75 to 100 vehicles on an icy Texas interstate, police said, as a winter storm dropped freezing rain, sleet and snow on parts of the U.S.

First responders are working their way through the "mass casualty incident" multi-vehicle crash on Interstate 35W just north of downtown Fort Worth.

Icy roads from rain and freezing temperatures made driving very dangerous all across North Texas early Thursday morning, resulting in lots of crashes, closed roadways, and some reported fatalities.

The massive crash that reportedly has claimed 3 lives and involved 70 or more vehicles on I-35W happened around 6:30 a.m., as rush-hour traffic was beginning to increase in the pre-dawn hours. With it still being dark and a thin sheet of ice on the roads, many drivers were caught by surprise.

*Caution: Video contains NSFW language

Fort Worth Fire Department officials say they are going car-to-car in the 50+ vehicle pileup, looking for people in need of medical care at the crash scene near 28th Street.

Officials have no timeline to reopen the interstate. They say they can’t even give a total number of victims from this morning’s crash because some are just now being found or getting out of their cars & falling on ice.

Fort Worth Police have established a 'family reunification location' for families to pick up and meet drivers/passengers involved in the pileup. Families can pick up their loved ones at 3700 E. Belknap (Riverside Center).

*This is a developing story. Follow 1080 KRLD for the latest information

Featured Image Photo Credit: Fort Wroth Fire Dept.