---
title: "Major Pileup Leaves One Person Dead on Highway in Upstate New York"
description: "Chain reaction comes amid snowstorm and a blizzard warning for the area."
date: "2018-01-02"
modified: "2018-01-02"
authors:
  - name: "Kate Gibson"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/kate-gibson"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/article/17316/major-pileup-leaves-one-person-dead-on-highway-in-upstate-new-york"
categories:
  - "News"
tags:
  - "blizzard warning"
  - "buffalo"
  - "New York State"
  - "pileup"
---

# Major Pileup Leaves One Person Dead on Highway in Upstate New York

![](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/images-by-url-td/content/2018/01/gettyimages-664495982.jpg>)
*\<em\>www.thedrive.com</em>*

A piece of the New York State Thruway outside Buffalo was closed Tuesday after a massive pileup that killed on person and injured another.

Poor visibility and a snowstorm were blamed as state police reported a multi-vehicle crash involving between 15 and as many as 25 cars, [according to](<https://buffalonews.com/2018/01/02/eastbound-lanes-of-i-90-near-depew-closed-due-to-crash/>)

 *The Buffalo News*.

https://twitter.com/_/status/948268850516242432

Motorists were [reported](<https://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/massive-car-pileup-shuts-thruway-buffalo-article-1.3733662>) to be trapped in their vehicles and about 75 vehicles were piled up between two exits.

One person traveling in the opposite direction posted a video on Twitter showing vehicles backed up for about three-quarters of a mile in the Thruway's eastbound lanes.

A blizzard warning is in effect for the area until 1 a.m. Wednesday.

"Strong winds will cause significant blowing and drifting snow, frequently reducing visibilities to zero. Travel is strongly discouraged," the National Weather Service said in an [advisory.](<https://forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatxtget.php?cwa=aly&wwa=blizzard%20warning>)

At least three flights to Buffalo were reportedly diverted elsewhere.

### Author social links