Heavy snow and high winds have caused traffic chaos in Germany, leaving three people dead and dozens more injured. Police say one person was killed and more than 40 injured in more than 300 accidents Friday night and Saturday in the north-western state of North Rhine-Wesphalia alone.

Two other people were killed in separate accidents on slick roads in the southern state of Bavaria. The winter weather caused long traffic jams on many highways, the closure of others, and flight delays and cancellations. In the northern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania all public transit was shut down in the city of Rostock as the area was hit with 12 inches (30 centimetres) of new snow overnight and high winds.

Copyright Associated Press, 2010