Crashes reported on Washtenaw County roads, with more snow on the way
As snow falls across the Ann Arbor area this afternoon, authorities are busy responding to accidents as the evening commute ramps up.
A dispatcher reported at least six crashes or spin-outs as of 3:40 p.m., including at eastbound I-94 and Scio Church Road; eastbound I-94 and Ann Arbor-Saline Road, where a car was off in the ditch; westbound I-94 and Huron, with another car in the ditch; and a multi-car crash at the westbound M-14 and I-94 split.
No injuries had been reported, the dispatcher said.
Earlier today, Bryan Tilley, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in White Lake Township, was predicting the day's heaviest snowfall from 3 to 6 p.m., with reduced visibility making travel difficult.
The National Weather Service is predicting a snowfall of 2 to 3 inches for Friday night.
Comments
dading dont delete me bro
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 11:56 a.m.
i left the west side of ann arbor 94/zeeb rd area and got to emu's campus. along the way i counted AT LEAST 8 salt/plow trucks (all salting/plowing). despite the trucks out, the roads were HORRIBLE.
Soothslayer
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 12:06 a.m.
According to police reports most all accidents in inclement weather are caused by people not adjusting their driving correctly to match conditions. All the snowplows and salt in the world won't fix this. The only reason we use salt is because we're living on top of it. Other states don't do this. Darwin always wins!
John B.
Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 12:44 a.m.
Right on. poorly-skilled/inattentive drivers cause crashes on Winter roads, not a lack of snowplows or salt or brine or sand or even tunafish sandwiches! I always tell my out-of-State friends that driving in SE Michigan is a bit unique because is the only place I know where you can get tailgated at 80 mph, at 6:30 a.m., in the dark, during rush hour, during a blizzard!
TrueBlue90
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 10:59 p.m.
Gee, it's almost February and folks STILL don't know how to drive in winter conditions. It's not solely the fault of the road-salting crews. Clueless and/or distracted drivers and, even more so, aggressive drivers going too fast for conditions, are primarily to blame for all the crashes.
WalkingJoe
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 12:53 a.m.
I agree TrueBlue90. People just need to slow down in winter.
WalkingJoe
Fri, Jan 28, 2011 : 12:10 a.m.
I agree TrueBlue90, everybody thinks that the snow crews are to make the ice & snow go away as soon as it hits the ground and we can all go 5-10mph over the speed limit while texting, talking on cells, reading, putting on make-up, shaving and all the other distracting things I've people do while driving in all kinds of weather.
TrueBlue90
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 10:59 p.m.
Gee, it's almost February and folks STILL don't know how to drive in winter conditions. It's not solely the fault of the road-salting crews. Clueless and/or distracted drivers and, even more so, aggressive drivers going too fast for conditions, are primarily to blame for all the crashes.
WalkingJoe
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 10:30 p.m.
It's winter people and in winter we get snow. Deal with it. It's been this way since I started driving in this area over 40 years ago. More salt and harmful chemicals may be the solution so that we can kick start global warming then we won't have to worry about winters anymore.
A2Westsider
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 10:04 p.m.
Socialized road care? I might faint...where's my tea?
brian
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 10:02 p.m.
I lived in Buffalo for decades and whatever they do there they need to start doing here. I'd say if they got 10 inches there the main roads were about equal to when we get 2-3 inches here. And I'd have to guess that they aren't doing better than this town economically. But they seem to understand that road safety is a top priority no matter how bad the weather is. This area's roads are a joke in the winter.
Sallyxyz
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 9:56 p.m.
Ignatz: No, you sue the government for making poor decisions about what to cut from the county and city budgets. Public safety is first. Snow removal and salting/sanding is part of public safety. You sue because the fat cats with fat salaries are still making big bucks while cutting snow removal budgets, and the citizens are endangered on the highways due to inadequate road maintenance in the winter. There is plenty of fat in the county and city budgets. AA dot com needs to do an investigation and article on the county and city budgets, and include the salaries for the honchos. Show us specifically how the dollars are being used. Plenty of extras can be cut along with fat salaries. Public safety is first.
Sallyxyz
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 9:50 p.m.
Andy, accidents and injuries are far worse than using more salt. Who pays the increased cost of car and health insurance due to all the accidents caused by inadequate salting? You and I do, along with everyone else. I'd take salt in the environment over a hospitalization or collision any day. By the way, there are modern technologies used in other cities with lots of snow like Minneapolis, Buffalo, etc. A brine is used in other cities that is less harmful to the environment and far more effective at all temperatures. If that is not possible, then go back to sand. Just use something! Doing nothing or hoping it will melt is not a solution.
Ignatz
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
Yeah, sue the governments for not having enough money to keep things as we would like them. Then, they'll have even less! Then sue them some more!
John B.
Mon, Jan 31, 2011 : 12:34 a.m.
I hear you. What a bunch of crybabies. Make the nanny-state take care of us.... Heaven forbid we should actually take responsibility for our actions for once! Folks: hang up the cell phone, put down the Egg McMuffin and the twelve-volt curling iron (don't laugh - I've seen it done in rush hour traffic at 80 mph on I-696, she had zero hands on the steering wheel), and drive properly for the conditions. It's not really that difficult.
Sallyxyz
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 9:29 p.m.
No salt equals crashes. Can someone at aa dot com please investigate why the county and city are not salting adequately? This is causing needless crashes and injury. Someone needs to start suing the city and county for totally inadequate road maintenance in the winter.
John B.
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 9:41 p.m.
Or, people could just be responsible and drive less stupidly.... Nah, that'll never work.
Soothslayer
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 9:31 p.m.
salt is bad for the environment, people should just drive for conditions better. government can't possibly fix everything
Snehal
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 9:15 p.m.
Auto makers should focus on the technology that based on weather and traction the car would not go beyond a certain speed limit.
John B.
Thu, Jan 27, 2011 : 9:19 p.m.
Or, people could just be responsible and drive less stupidly.... Nah, that'll never work.