A major pileup involving about 70 vehicles occurred on eastbound Interstate 70 in Colorado during a sudden snowstorm with strong winds and whiteout conditions.

The crash happened near the Highway 6 on-ramp and resulted in 19 people being injured, though no fatalities were reported.

Authorities said rapidly worsening weather made the mountain roadway extremely slick and contributed to multiple collisions involving cars and semi-trucks.

The Colorado Department of Transportation closed the interstate for several hours while emergency crews responded and cleared the scene, CBS News has reported.

Nearby communities opened shelters for stranded drivers, while other crashes and closures were reported across Colorado’s mountain passes the same day.