A last minute return of heavy winter conditions reaped a heavy road toll in central and eastern Poland. 

Two pile ups involving over fifty vehicles were reported on the A7 motorway, a major route leading from the capital to south-western Lower Silesia. Police attributed the cause to early morning frost which made speeding cars skid on icy roads.

Luckily, only two persons sustained injuries in the mass accident. The A7 was blocked for several hours before the wreckage had been removed and normal traffic restored.  

Overnight snowfall, especially in the central Mazovia region, produced a 20 centimeter white blanket with slushy mud underneath, much to the discontent of road maintenance crews who had their attention already focused on spring clean up. (ss)