Seven dead in multiple China car crashes

Chinese rescuers dig through the wreckage of a 46-vehicle pileup on the Beijing-Tibet Expressway in Qinghai Province.

One person is dead and at least 11 more are injured in the massive crash that began when a sedan crashed into the back of a truck, sending it into guardrails during blizzard conditions early Monday morning.

Three of the victims had to be pulled out from under 50 tonnes of steel piping that fell onto the road.

Meanwhile, severe fog is blamed for the deaths of six others in separate crashes along the expressway's Ningyang section in Shandong province later in the day.

Another 24 were injured.

Foggy conditions spread out over much of southeastern Shandong province, reducing visibility to less than 50 meters in some areas.

The crashes closed parts of the expressway, which were opened again Monday afternoon.