In Japan, a massive crash involving 67 vehicles in snowy weather killed two people and injured 26 on an expressway last evening as the country kicked off its end-of-year holiday season. The Gunma prefectural highway police said today that the pileup on the Kanetsu Expressway started with a collision between two trucks in the town of Minakami, about 160 kilometres northwest of Tokyo.

A fire erupted at the far end of the pileup, spreading to about 20 vehicles, some of which were completely burned. The fire destroyed about 20 vehicles before being put out seven hours later, while parts of the expressway remained closed for investigation and cleanup as heavy snow warnings were in effect during peak holiday travel.