Impressive pileup on the A16: the accident left around twenty people injured, including 3 in absolute emergency

Les images de l'impressionnant carambolage sur l'A16. Sdid 80 – J.Renard

On the morning of Sunday January 21, 2024, a monster pileup disrupted traffic on the A16 in the Somme. The incident left nearly twenty people injured and caused a temporary shutdown of the highway.

Early this Sunday, January 21, an impressive pileup occurred on the A16 motorway near Bettencourt-Saint-Ouen. In total, 10 vehicles, a heavy goods vehicle and 9 cars, were involved in this accident. According to the results of the Somme prefecture and the firefighters who intervened on site, more than 20 people were taken care of, reports France Bleu.

3 people in absolute emergency

The accident occurred shortly after 6 a.m. this Sunday. If the circumstances are still to be clarified, it has already been established that the "heavyweight chased", but investigations are continuing, indicated the prefecture.

According to the information transmitted by the latter, 23 people were injured, including 3 in absolute emergency who were airlifted to the Amiens University Hospital, specifies Le Parisien. The incident left 11 lightly injured and 9 others "involved" but not hospitalized, details the prefecture.

Somme : 24 blessés et 10 véhicules impliqués dans un carambolage sur l'A16 à hauteur de Flixecourt

➡️ https://t.co/xtzc37euJe pic.twitter.com/xWMWeyW54o

— France Bleu Picardie (@fbleupicardie) January 21, 2024

The pileup occurred near Bettencourt-Saint-Ouen in the Flixecourt sector, between Abbeville and Amiens, in the Boulogne-Paris direction. As a result, the highway was cut mid-morning this Sunday, forcing vehicles to follow a diversion. Traffic was therefore very disrupted and it was not recommended to use the roads in this sector.

⚠️Accident du 21/01 sur l'A16 Abbeville > Amiens à hauteur de Bettencourt-Saint-Ouen (80). Fin des opérations d'évacuation des blessés et impliqués, chaussée dégagée, réouverture partielle du trafic dans ce sens sur 1 voie cet après-midi Prudence! @Prefet80 @sdis80 @sanef_1077 pic.twitter.com/9dSohimUcQ

— Gendarmerie de la Somme (@Gendarmerie_080) January 21, 2024

If the images are impressive and the reasons for such an accident are still to be established, the weather is certainly responsible. The northern part of the country has been hit by snowfall and sub-zero temperatures this week. As a result, freezing rain was present in this part of France, which considerably reduced the grip of vehicles on the roads.