A heavy band of snow set off a series of car crashes on a Maine highway on Wednesday that left dozens of people caught in a "mess of vehicles."
According to Maine State Police, at least 17 people were injured in the crash that involved an estimated 70 cars on Interstate 95 near Etna, Maine.
The crash, which happened around 7:30 a.m. and involved several cars, a school bus and a tractor-trailer, resulted in no fatalities, though some of the injuries were serious.
State police said the crash was the biggest in Maine in more than 15 years.
The drivers may have been taken off guard as the snow was part of a relatively narrow band. The heavy snow resulted from a storm system that swept off the New England coast but sent some energy inland.
Photos and video from the scene show first responders climbing atop vehicles to survey the scene.
These cars have been here awhile. #I95pileup pic.twitter.com/XioLH38p7V— Adrienne DiPiazza (@a_dipiazza) February 25, 2015
Rhonda Kent, an occupational therapist from Saint Albans, said her car was sideswiped amid the pileup, which sent cars and trucks spinning. Kent, who was not injured, said a logging truck came dangerously close to hitting her and spun off into a ditch.
"It was almost surreal, something you see in the movies," Kent said.
Local hospitals said they had taken in passengers, with some in serious condition. One person at the scene of the crash had a heart attack and others suffered broken bones, police said. Two students and two adults on the bus were shaken up -- but not injured.
The main crash involved more than 25 vehicles, police said, noting that there were a series of other wrecks leading up to the main crash site. Some of the crashes involved two or three vehicles, and then other vehicles went off the road and into the snow to avoid hitting them.
State Police Lt. Sean Hashey was "absolutely shocked" that no one was killed in the incident.
He blamed poor visibility, slippery roads and speed for the crashes, but cautioned that reconstructing exactly how the events unfolded could be impossible.
"We'll never know exactly who hit who," Hashey said. "It was just such a mess of vehicles."
Traffic was lined up behind the crash on the highway for hours as emergency crews worked to clear the highway. Both northbound lanes on a 30-mile stretch of highway were closed for five hours, and drivers were told to take other exits to avoid the area. One northbound lane reopened around 12:30 p.m.; the other opened several hours later.
VIDEO: Never seen anything like it. Countless cars lined up. Police on scene say the road will open up soon. pic.twitter.com/mZHfQsMo8V— Adrienne DiPiazza (@a_dipiazza) February 25, 2015
There was at least an inch of snow on the ground at the time of the crash, according to the National Weather Service. Snow was forecast to fall throughout the day with total accumulations of 5 to 9 inches.
The Associated Press contributed to this report