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30 cars involved in pileup on Maine interstate; 1 person seriously injured

Police said blinding sun may have caused the first crash and then "several other vehicles collided in a chain reaction."
Firefighters work at the scene of a 30-car pileup in Carmel, Main, on Jan. 7, 2020.
Firefighters work at the scene of a multiple vehicle crash in Carmel, Maine, on Jan. 7, 2020.Town of Hermon Fire Dept.

About 30 vehicles were involved in a pileup Tuesday morning on an interstate in Maine, police said.

There were multiple injuries with one person transported via helicopter to a Bangor hospital in serious condition, state police said.

The crash happened around 7:45 a.m. in the northbound lanes of Interstate 95 in Carmel, about 90 miles northeast of Lewiston. Police said in a Facebook post that initial reports indicate blinding sun may have caused the first crash and then "several other vehicles collided in a chain reaction."

Authorities initially said the crash involved between 50 to 60 vehicles. Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center in Bangor said it expects to receive nine to 13 patients from the crash.

The pileup left several hundred motorists stuck on the interstate behind the crash site. Police said they are working to open a crossover to get traffic moving. I-95 will remain closed for much of the day.

This is a developing story, check back for updates.