Seven vehicles were involved in a severe multi-car pileup on Riksveg 15 in Hamseviki, Skjåk, on Monday, leaving seven people injured and forcing a complete closure of the mountain pass. The incident, which unfolded during volatile weather conditions, required a large-scale emergency response, including the deployment of air ambulances to transport the most seriously injured to the hospital.
Police report that three individuals were airlifted to a hospital, while four others were transported to a local emergency clinic. While the exact severity of the injuries has not been released, the require for air medical transport underscores the critical nature of the collision. Haagen Løvseth, the operations leader for the Innlandet police district, noted that officials do not yet have a full assessment of the degree of injury for those involved.
The wreckage was extensive, with five of the seven vehicles sustaining significant material damage. Emergency crews worked through the afternoon and evening to clear the scene, eventually reopening the road after a period of total closure in both directions.
Airbagen er utløst i en bil som var involvert i ulykka.
Foto: Even Lusæter / NRK
The Anatomy of a Chain Collision
The accident began when a driver traveling westbound encountered a “whiteout”—a weather phenomenon where heavy snow or blowing snow reduces visibility to near zero. According to police, the driver stopped their vehicle due to the lack of sight, creating a stationary hazard on the road.
A second vehicle approaching from behind attempted to avoid the stopped car, but in the process, swerved into the oncoming lane. This resulted in a head-on collision with another vehicle traveling eastbound. Police estimate the impact of the head-on crash occurred at approximately 40 kilometers per hour.
The initial crash then triggered a chain reaction. Additional vehicles traveling from both the east and west were unable to stop in time, slamming into the wreckage and expanding the pileup to a total of seven cars. Police officer Jo Øien described the sequence as a classic chain collision precipitated by sudden visibility loss.
Ulykken skjedde langs Riksveg 15 i Hamseviki i Skjåk kommune.
Hazardous Conditions on the Mountain Pass
The geography of Riksveg 15 often presents challenging driving conditions, particularly during the transition between winter and spring. In this instance, the road surface was reported as slippery, with weather conditions fluctuating rapidly.
Løvseth explained that the environment was a mix of “bare and wet” pavement interspersed with sudden patches of snow and blowing snow. While the exact cause of the accident is still being formally determined, the police believe these erratic conditions played a decisive role in the whiteout and subsequent loss of control.
The road remained closed for approximately an hour and a half, with police barriers established on both sides of the mountain to prevent further traffic from entering the danger zone. The road was eventually reopened after the most damaged vehicles were towed to a nearby parking lot.
Jo Øien, politibetjent i Nord-Gudbrandsdalen.
Foto: Even Lusæter / NRK
| Detail | Status/Count |
|---|---|
| Total Vehicles Involved | 7 |
| Air Ambulance Transports | 3 |
| Emergency Clinic Transports | 4 |
| Significant Material Damage | 5 vehicles |
| Road Closure Duration | ~1.5 hours |
Regional Travel Impact and Safety
While the situation in Skjåk was critical, other mountain passes in Norway reported varying degrees of difficulty on Monday. Traffic operator Christian Strømmen indicated that convoy driving (kolonnekjøring) was in effect on the Norwegian Public Roads Administration network at Hardangervidda.
Strømmen noted that while most passes were functioning reasonably well, another traffic accident had occurred at Strynefjellet. Traffic volumes were higher than typical for the day, though no major congestion was reported in the Oslo area by the Eastern Road Traffic Center.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the dangers associated with spring whiteouts on high-altitude roads. Safety officials recommend that drivers maintain significant following distances and be prepared to stop completely when visibility drops, though the inherent danger of stationary vehicles in low-visibility zones remains a primary risk factor for chain collisions.
Police concluded their operations at the scene by 7:21 p.m. On Monday. The investigation into the exact sequence of events and the responsibility of the drivers involved will continue as part of the standard procedure for accidents involving personal injuries.
Further updates regarding the condition of the seven injured individuals are expected to be released as hospital assessments are completed.
If you have information regarding this incident or were traveling in the Hamseviki area on Monday, please contact the Innlandet police district. We invite readers to share their thoughts on mountain road safety in the comments below.
