Dozens of Cars in I-95 Pile-Ups in Baltimore; at Least 3 Dead

— -- At least three people are dead after a pair of multi-vehicle crashes on I-95 in Baltimore this morning, Maryland officials said.

The first crash occurred around 4:45 a.m. on the northbound interstate near Eastern Avenue, and one driver died after getting out of a disabled vehicle to avoid being struck and falling over the wall of the elevated highway, according to Lt. Kevin Ayd of the Maryland Transportation Authority Police.

The second incident shortly after at about 5 a.m. on I-95 northbound near Caton Avenue, Ayd said. A tractor-trailer tanker truck was traveling on the roadway, lost control, hit the wall and flipped over the elevated portion of the highway onto the railroad tracks below. When it hit, there was an explosion and a large fire broke out, Ayd said.

Debris from the crash and explosion landed on both the northbound and southbound lanes of the highway, causing a major pile-up in the northbound lanes.

As of this evening, there were believed to have been 67 vehicles involved in the pile-up, but there is a possibility that number could increase, Ayd said.

Two people died in the crash -- the driver of the tanker driver and another driver -- and officials were still trying to determine the total number of people injured and extent of any injuries, Ayd said. Patients were transported to various hospitals in the Baltimore region for treatment.

Weather was believed to be a factor in both crashes, but the investigation was continuing, officials said.