Officials say a fiery pileup involving more than two dozen vehicles on a Georgia interstate has left at least three people dead and nine others hurt.

A petroleum tanker truck also caught fire in the wrecks that happened Wednesday morning near Montrose on Interstate 16, a major artery between Savannah and Macon.

The Georgia State Patrol says nine people were hurt.

Laurens County EMS Director Terry Cobb says at least six vehicles were still on fire when crews arrived. The state patrol says there were four separate crashes involving 27 vehicles.

Officials said poor visibility likely played a big part. Weather forecasts called for dense fog Wednesday morning.