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Icy roads surprise morning motoristsBy Rose Hooper |
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Unsuspecting Jackson County motorists were jolted Sunday morning by patches of black ice.
Lower than expected overnight temperatures caused light rain to freeze on roads and contributed to a number of accidents.
"Lee headed out our driveway and didn't realize the roads were icy until he hit the first curve on Locust Creek," said his wife, Brenda Ewart. "Lucky for Lee, nothing was coming in the other direction." Other motorists weren't as lucky as Ewart. Some 39 early-morning wrecks were reported throughout the county. "Freezing rain iced up the roads, especially the bridges and overpasses," said Mike Ensley, Jackson County's emergency services coordinator. "All our emergency personnel were out on the job -sheriff's department and highway patrol working wrecks; the fire department and rescue squad trying to warn and slow down traffic; and the ambulance service worked the wrecks." DOT was busy, too, salting the roads, Ensley said. "Conditions were really strange," said Capt. Dale Nations of the Sylva Volunteer Fire Department. "The icing over Sunday started just before 6 a.m. but mainly in the lower elevations and worked its way up. It seemed to start in Jackson County, but didn't hit other counties until around 11 a.m." Sylva volunteer firefighters situated fire trucks with flashing lights along U.S 23-74 from Exit 83 (Jackson Plaza) to Exit 85 (Harris Regional Hospital). The firefighters' job was to slow down traffic, especially around the exits and bridges. "We were out there for a purpose," said Nations, "but the way some drivers whizzed by and ignored us, you would have thought we were just out there to freeze our tails off." Although they canceled 11 a.m. services at his church, Sylva First United Methodist, because of icy roads, Joe Henry said one of the iciest places was the overhead walkway leading to his apartment in Dillsboro. Lyman Parker of Monteith Branch discovered any icy spot around his house, too, causing him to fall and injure his hip. Icy conditions continued on Monday when difficulties were compounded by heavy fog that shrouded county roads. Some eight wrecks occurred Monday, including one about 8:30 a.m. that involved a car overturned in the 23-74 median and blocked a lane of traffic toward Cherokee. Oil spills from wrecks intensified the hazardous conditions, but no serious wrecks or power outages were reported either morning, Ensley said. Ensley cautioned those traveling by vehicle this time of the year to "make sure your car is well supplied. Keep your tank full of gas and have blankets, flashlights, dry clothes and energy food and bottled water on hand in case you get stranded in your car. Listen to the weather reports and know the conditions where you are headed." |
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