Slick roads trigger numerous accidents

2/10/2005

Depending on where you were in the area last night, your nemesis was icy roads.

And if you were in some sort of vehicle, especially on an interstate highway, you probably wished you weren't.

Whatever the form of precipitation - either fog, mist, freezing rain, or light snow, area roadways quickly froze over and came to resemble a bumper-car ride at the county fair.

Slip-sliding vehicles careened into anything in their way - people, guardrails, utility poles, ditches, and mostly other vehicles.

People were hurt in some of the accidents. The severity of their injuries was not available.

Salt trucks were very much in demand.

Dispatchers at the Lucas County Sheriff's Office said they lost count of the number of accidents reported, while at least 50 were reported to the Wood County Sheriff's Office. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said there were numerous accidents on both I-75 and U.S. 23 in its jurisdiction.

Just before 10 p.m., Toledo police shut down the icy entrance ramp from downtown Toledo to southbound I-75. Minutes later, accidents forced the Michigan State Police to close northbound I-75 in Monroe County from the Ohio line to the area just north of Luna Pier Road.

And on I-75 between the Maumee River and the U.S.23/I-475 split near Perrysburg, authorities were assisting at numerous accidents.

A vehicle reportedly struck a man near Airport Highway and Byrne Road and then fled.

Other crashes were reported on northbound I-280, just north of Walbridge Road; I-280 near the Ohio Turnpike; southbound I-280 at Starr Avenue; northbound I-75 near Ottawa River Road; southbound I-75 near Alexis Road; West Bancroft Street and Schwamberger Road; North Crissey Road and Dorr Street, and Division Street and Nebraska Avenue.

Will Kubina, of the National Weather Service office in Cleveland, said the roads became slick after they cooled enough to allow whatever form of precipitation was in the air to freeze on contact.

The Ohio Department of Transportation's highway sensors were recording temperatures below freezing by last night, he said.

The next few days should be warmer and drier. There is a small chance of snow this morning, with a high today around 30. Tomorrow, temperatures should climb into the mid-30s, and there is a slight chance of flurries. Saturday, the high should be close to 40.