Snow snarls traffic on Toledo-area expressways, results in 1 fatal crash

Chay Brassfield is well bundled as she walks past snow covered flowers en route to work at One Government Center today in Toledo.

The Blade/Dave Zapotosky
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A Sylvania man was killed and a Canton, Mich. man was injured when a car and a pickup truck collided about 7:20 a.m. in the eastbound lanes of Airport Highway near the Ohio Turnpike in Monclova Township, the Ohio Highway Patrol said.

Rex George, 65, who was driving the car, was pronounced dead at the scene, according to the patrol's Toledo post.  Curtis Davis, 47, who was driving the pickup, was taken to ProMedica St. Luke's Hospital, where his condition was not immediately available.

Mr. Davis was driving west on Airport when he apparently lost control on the icy overpass, causing the pickup truck to cross the center line and get into the path of the car Mr. George was driving eastbound on the highway, according to a written statement released by the post. Mr. George wore seat belts, but it is unknown if Mr. Davis did, troopers said

The crash caused troopers to close the eastbound lanes of Airport for about two hours, adding to the congestion along Toledo-area highways this morning from unusually late-season snowfall. In many parts of the metro area, slippery conditions caused traffic to slow to a crawl. Some roadways were fully or partially closed.

Toledo police said five crashes occurred on southbound I-75 between 6 a.m. and 7 a.m., restricting or stopping traffic. Two of them occurred at Phillips Avenue, with the others at Ottawa River Road, I-280, and Alexis Road. Some were injured in accidents at Ottawa River and Phillips, police said.

Traffic is backed up on southbound I-75 near Summit Street earlier today.

In Waterville, the Mechanic Street bridge on State Rt. 64 over the Maumee River has reopened after it was closed in both directions because of an earlier crash there, Waterville police said.

A pair of vehicles collided on Benore Road, while, in the background, traffic moves slowly on southbound I-75 today.

RELATED: Icy roads prompt Mich. school delays

RELATED: The Blade Weather Page

Southbound U.S. 23 briefly closed between the Michigan state line and Central Avenue after accidents, according to the patrol. The crashes were "all over that area" a dispatcher at the patrol's Bowling Green post said. She gave no further details.

In Clyde, Ohio, a woman was injured when the car she was driving overturned and crashed into a tree about 7:40 a.m. on State Rt. 101 near South Sandusky County Road 278, according to the patrol's Sandusky post. The woman, whose name and condition were not released, was taken to Bellevue Hospital, troopers said.

An inch of snow was measured at the Toledo Express Airport at 7 a.m., according to the National Weather Service in Cleveland, and the roads were slick.

Today's weather has also put area school districts on a 2-hour delay, including: Benton/Carroll/Salem-St. Boniface, Buckeye Central Local Schools, New Riegel, Seneca County Opportunity Center, and Seneca East.