DDN – In a Facebook post, St. Joseph County Sheriff William Redman encouraged motorists to avoid the closed U.S. 20 bypass following a huge pileup on the snow-covered highway in northern Indiana.

After the highway reopened soon before 5 p.m. Tuesday, the St. Joseph County Police Department reported a huge pileup involving 12 vehicles, including three commercial vehicles. Two minor injuries have been reported.

The department reported that between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, its personnel handled more than 33 crashes during a snowstorm that moved across the area.

The Indiana Department of Transportation reported that U.S. 20 eastbound was closed at the 74.5-mile marker just outside South Bend around 2:30 p.m.

St. Joseph County is home to the cities of South Bend and Mishawaka.

The St. Joseph County Police Department posted photos on Facebook showing many semi-trailers and cars off the road. Sheriff William Redman commented on the post, “I’m out here and visibility is terrible! Stay off the bypass.”

The police department’s post continued, “It is an all-hands-on-deck situation as our team continues to respond to the bypass.” Visibility remains poor, and roadways are sloppy. Currently, only minor injuries are being recorded.

One of our cops had to get off the road to escape being hit by a semi. Thankfully, they are fine. “The bypass remains closed from SR 2 eastbound to Mayflower Road.”

Reference: ‘Stay Off the Bypass!’ Snow Causes 12-vehicle Pileup in Northern Indiana