Jihlava - As a result of icy road conditions and a snow storm this morning, there has been a series of multi-car accidents on the D1 highway between Prague and Brno, considered to be some of the most serious this busy road has seen in years.
There is not confirmation yet, but at least a few dozen, if not a hundred, cars are said to have been involved in accidents in both directions of the highway between the 90th and 140th kilometers of the road. This section lies primarily in the Vysočina region.
According to first reports, six people were seriously injured, and 16 others suffered light injuries. So far, there are no reports of fatalities.
The serious situation is further worsened by the occasional snowfalls and road maintenance says traffic delays could last for hours.
An Aktuálně.cz reporter, Adam Junek, was stuck in one of the traffic jams on his way to Brno in a Student Agency bus. "We are standing on the 94th kilometer. All the cars in front of us are just standing. Some drivers say that there are a few multiple-car accidents on the highway in front of us," said Junek. "The bus driver warned us that we will probably be sitting here for a few hours, until the roads are cleared."
Prague firefighters helping out
Fire brigades and rescue workers from the whole Vysočina region are already working at the various accident sites.
"Five of our teams from Jihlava, Humpolec and Pelhřimov are trying to clear the roads," said Petra Musilová, spokeswoman for the Vysočina regional administration. "Firefighters have sent a helicopter from Prague," she added.
There is still no way to tell how long it will take to make the road passable. D1 is apparently closed between the 97th and 100th kilometers. A detour route has not yet been determined, because of the heavy snowfall.
