Dozens of cars and transport trucks collided on Hwy. 40 on December 17, 2012. (SIMON CLARK/QMI Agency)

NEUVILLE, Que. - Several people were injured, one seriously, when dozens of cars and transport trucks smashed into each other along a snow-covered stretch of highway Monday morning.

The chain-reaction crash happened on Hwy. 40 about 30 minutes west of Quebec City. As many as 40 vehicles were involved.

Ambulances and fire trucks rushed to the scene to free motorists who were trapped in their vehicles.

"We're talking about multiple collisions ...that left several vehicles in ditches," provincial police Sgt,. Ann Mathieu told reporters.

"With the conditions from this morning, vehicles were found over a large part of the roadway."

She added that snow was falling at the time of the pileup causing slippery conditions and reduced visibility.

Tow trucks were called to the scene and westbound Hwy. 40 was completely closed as cars and trucks littered the 2-km stretch of road.