12 injured in New Hampshire pileup as New England braces for more snow

New Hampshire authorities say a dozen people were injured in crashes on Interstate 93 Friday when the highway went from dry to snow-covered in three minutes. This weekend Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine are expected to see more snow.

New Hampshire State Police say a dozen people were injured in interstate pileups involving 35 vehicles amid whiteout conditions from snow squalls.

Police say none of the injuries from Friday morning's crashes on Interstate 93 were life-threatening.

Police say one vehicle caught fire and was destroyed. The fire also damaged three other vehicles and cargo inside a tractor-trailer unit.

The crashes happened in and near Ashland, about 30 miles north of Concord.

Manchester District Fire Chief Al Poulin told WMUR-TV that there were many vehicles on the road driving faster than the 75 mph speed limit, including some apparently heading to ski resorts for the weekend.

Department of Transportation spokesman Bill Boynton said the highway went from dry pavement to snow covered in three minutes on Friday. 

This weekend Northern New England is in for a mix of snow, sleet and rain.

A winter storm is expected to hit Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine starting with snow on Saturday afternoon. Snow is expected to change to sleet and eventually rain by Sunday.

The National Weather Service says the storm could make driving hazardous and cause scattered power outages.

The forecast calls for up to 7 inches of heavy wet snow in eastern Vermont and 4 to 8 inches in parts of New Hampshire and Maine followed by sleet and rain in all three states on Sunday.