Richmond(Virginia), Dec 19 (IANS): A brutal blast of frigid air sweeping the US has created icy roads causing multiple-car pileups that left at least six dead in Virginia, Maryland and Oklahoma, authorities said.

In northern Virginia, authorities responded to more than 40 traffic accidents, some involving multiple vehicles, according to the state police, the CNN reported on Sunday.

A 55-vehicle crash on a icy stretch of I-95 in Baltimore left at least two people dead and motorists stranded for hours, said Chief Roman Clark, a Baltimore Fire Department spokesman.

Fifteen people were taken to hospitals.

A video posted on social media on Sunday showed a fuel truck flipping over a median on the interstate near the Washington Boulevard exit before erupting in flames.

A man was heard asking, "What is going on?" as flames and dark smoke rose from under the highway.

Mayor Catherine Pugh said good Samaritans helped pull people out of cars.
"This is the worst accident that we've seen," she added.

Emergency vehicles descended on the scene, stalling traffic for miles and leading authorities to urge stranded motorists on both sides of the interstate to "remain warm and calm and shelter in place" in their cars.

Clark described road conditions as "very slippery."

Over the weekend, a 40-vehicle wreck shut down westbound lines of Interstate 40 east of Albuquerque, New Mexico State Police spokesman Sgt. Chad Pierce said.

The highway was covered in snow and ice, Pierce said.