Icy conditions contribute to numerous weather-related crashes around Washtenaw County
Saturday morning's light snow and close to freezing temperatures created dangerous conditions on many expressways in Washtenaw County.
There were numerous crashes and rollovers as well as fender-benders on M-14, US-23 and at several places along I-94.
Two crashes blamed on icy bridge conditions occurred on I-94 just west of Rawsonville Road at 9:20 a.m.
According to Capt. Victor Chevrette of the Ypsilanti Township Fire Department, a family from Canada suffered minor injuries in one of those crashes. Everyone was wearing seatbelts. They were treated and transported to the hospital, Chevrette said.
Another driver was also injured in that same location in a separate crash and was treated for minor injuries and transported to the hospital, he said.
Chevrette said the dangerous conditions had dissipated by Saturday afternoon.
Lisa Carolin is a freelance journalist for AnnArbor.com. Reach the news desk at news@annarbor.com.
Comments
Fat Bill
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 3:58 p.m.
People need to get over the idea that they have some sort of god-given right to a speedy commute no matter what the road conditions are. Common sense says that you aren't going to get far in a blizzard, and your AAA card isn't going to get you out of trouble if the road is impassable. Some drivers simply need to reassess their priorities.
Johnson48Racing
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 3:23 p.m.
People won't slow down don't have time to do that always in a hurry..I was on I-94 that morning saw it looked slippery did 45 all the way to A2 saw a few cars off the highway, drivers didn't care still doing 70 won't slow down..Then they crash as point the finger at road commissions and mdot..Salt trucks were out the freeway it froze very quickly. If you see a salt truck throwing salt wouldn't you think right away it might be slippery, na give her hell and do everything you can to speed around that pesky salt truck in your way holding you up from getting where you are trying to get to and spin out, then get upset at the road commission not yourself for driving like a dumba**.. I live in Jackson Co roads aren't any better here, my road hasn't been salted all weekend still has ice on it, no big deal just take it slow and pay attention..
Jim Pryce
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 1:11 p.m.
Things were better Saturday evening, but I still on I-94 headed west towards Jackson appeared to have "black ice". On M-60 in Jackson county I was following a pickup that fishtailed, & a few moments later, I did also. No salt trucks anywhere. This was about 6 pm
Rhonda
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 1:01 p.m.
While you do wonder why some people forget how to drive in winter/snowy conditions, there is nothing that can "teach" you how to "drive" on black ice, particularly when it's covered in a light coating of snow! The Washtenaw County Road Commission needs to do a far better job than what they are doing, plain and simple. Just recently, a wonderful person lost their life to "icy" conditions on a secondary road, where traffic WAS only going 35 in a 55 mph. zone at a time when the roads should have been salted already. It is a stark difference between Jackson County and Lenawee County roads and Washtenaw County's roads when traveling during wintery conditions. If you have been fortunate enough to have never encountered a situation where black ice caused your car to spin out, count yourself lucky, but don't question the other persons driving abilities. It all comes down to our roads not being properly salted and cleared.
grimmk
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 3:02 a.m.
Why is it every year people forget how to drive in winter weather? It wasn't even that bad! I drove down Michigan Ave and it was clear as a bell! Slow down people!
spm
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 12:45 a.m.
I was trying to drive to Indiana to visit family this morning and even though the snow was fairly light there was ice underneath all that swirling snow. We didn't even make it to Jackson before we saw about five or six cars off the road and one SUV on it's side. We just turned around and went home. We didn't see any salt trucks out there and it was between 9am to 10:30am.
Ann English
Mon, Dec 19, 2011 : 2:05 a.m.
Thank God your story ends without anyone getting killed. Last winter, a transplant surgeon who works in Indianapolis was on his way back there from the U of M Hospital (where his wife worked), on a day when I-94 was very slippery. It was a Sunday afternoon, and he was in the Jackson vicinity when he lost control of his vehicle and a semitruck hit his vehicle broadside, killing him. Nobody could have survived such an accident, belted in or not. Years ago, I once saw four accidents on my way somewhere during a winter evening, and decided not to go after all. I told others what I had seen, so they would reconsider going out too.
justcurious
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 12:36 a.m.
Police have been on the scanner all evening requesting that the dispatchers call the road commission to get the salt trucks out.
Fat Bill
Sun, Dec 18, 2011 : 12:14 a.m.
With the cutbacks in police staffing you will find that on many occasions you will encounter tow trucks winching out and/or hooking up on the side of the road without any police traffic control. Remember that state law requires you to move over a lane or slow down for emergency vehicles on the side of the road, and that specifically includes wreckers.
Ann English
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 10:54 p.m.
I wonder how many of us remember a question on our written driver tests, in which the right answer to "How fast should you drive?" is "At a safe, reasonable speed." That safe, reasonable speed depends on road conditions. Even 35 mph on the expressways can be a safe, reasonable speed if they're icy enough so that you could go off the road at 60 mph.
justcurious
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 9:45 p.m.
Where were the Road Commission trucks? Do they monitor the weather reports? When it looks like it did last night they should be prepared to get out there on the freeways around the perimeter of Ann Arbor and speed some salt early in the morning. The secondary roads are never as treacherous as the freeways are, and that is why I think they should concentrate on the freeways. This happens so frequently.
WalkingJoe
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 9:53 p.m.
I was out this morning and saw several Road Commission salt trucks. The problem I saw was all the drivers who won't pay attention to the conditions.
justcurious
Sat, Dec 17, 2011 : 9:46 p.m.
"spread" some salt.