The I-40 is back open in wake of deadly wrecks

Interstate 40 has been reopened hours after blinding snow caused a series of collisions that involved neaEastbound lanes were reopened at 2:45 a.m. Monday, and the westbound lanes were reopened a couple of hours later.

The wrecks had forced closure of a 20-mile stretch of Interstate 40 west of Flagstaff for nearly 15 hours.

Flagstaff Fire Department Chief Mark Wilson says the low visibility caused about 20 collisions, which occurred over a stretch of highway at least four miles long around noon Sunday.

He described the wrecks as clumps of vehicles piled on top of each other, involving cars, trucks and semis.

Wilson said two people died, and 15 people had to be removed from vehicles with hydraulic equipment and hand tools.
rly 140 vehicles and left two people dead.