A portion of Interstate 70 in eastern Missouri was shut down on Friday afternoon following a pileup involving multiple vehicles as a winter storm passed through the area. The incident was reported at 2:44 p.m., leading to the closure of the westbound section of the road near the town of Warrenton, situated between Columbia and St. Louis.

Video footage from the scene showed several vehicles, including a jack-knifed semitrailer, amidst the snowy conditions. The Missouri Department of Transportation indicated that the road closure was expected to last at least two hours as crews worked to clear the area.

The winter storm brought 3.8 inches of snow by 2 p.m., with weather conditions causing visibility to drop to half a mile at times. According to weather.com digital meteorologist Jonathan Belles, the snow was nearing its end in the affected area.

As travelers faced disruptions due to the adverse weather and resulting pileup, authorities urged caution and advised staying informed about road conditions during severe weather events.