At least 3 dead after massive pileup on Indiana highway outside Chicago

Amy Koza

At least three people reported killed in the massive wreck on snowy roads.

At least three people are dead and 20 injured after a massive pileup on Interstate 94 near Michigan City, Ind. as drivers battled snowy, low visibility conditions Thursday afternoon.

At least 15 tractor-trailers are seen crunched together on the highway, about 60 miles southeast of Chicago, WLS-TV reported.

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BREAKING: At least 1 dead in massive pileup on I80/94 near Michigan City, Ind.: http://t.co/cAa6nttsUs http://ift.tt/KPJS0V

- ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) January 23, 2014

The National Weather Service called for up to 6 inches of snow in the region, with temperatures topping out at 12 degrees.

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Photos of the crash, near the highway's intersection with W 400 N in Michigan City, show drivers walking around the pileup of at least 15 tractor-trailers and about 10 cars. The roadway is completely snow-covered.

The local county coroner says heavy equipment is being used to remove the wreckage. Authorities are removing semis that have completely crushed cars. School buses have been brought in to keep warm people involved in the wreck.

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''They're getting to them as quick as they can, with cranes, wreckers, extrication. There's multiple fire departments out there, doing the best they can,' LaPorte County Coroner John Sullivan told WLS. 'There's just so much destruction, they have to tear apart those vehicles and semis and move them little by little to see if there is a car underneath them, or under a trailer.'

New photo from #NBC5 helicopter of the pileup crash in #Indiana http://t.co/V7Pyt9khn0 http://ift.tt/1mz6Ogu

- NBC Chicago (@nbcchicago) January 23, 2014 RELATED: VIDEO: RACEWAY MISHAP LEADS TO SICKENING PILE-UP OF HORSES AND DRIVERS

Officials shut down the roadway as crew responded to reports of drivers still trapped.

It is unclear how many people have been injured.

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