Icy conditions hike accident count in local areas

As a result of Sunday's icy conditions, Weirton Fire and Police Departments closed down U.S. Route 22's east- and westbound lanes.

Fire Chief Dave Lashhorn stated his crews had the westbound lane closed down from the intersection of Three Springs Drive and down the hill toward downtown Weirton.

He said firefighters on duty were on the scene from 6:30 a.m. on Sunday until approximately noon.

"There wasn't a whole lot of movement on the roads due to the ice," he said.

Weirton Police Chief Bruce Marshall stated accident calls seemed to slow down after the salt trucks hit the highway, but police are still tallying the amount of accidents that occurred within the city limits. Thus far more than 40 accidents have been reported.

Marshall noted Route 22 eastbound closed for approximately an hour.

"Most vehicles just couldn't get up the hill because the ice was so bad," said Marshall. "When a storm comes on you like that there's not much you can do."

Local ambulances were kept busy with the rising number of accidents as well. According to Weirton Area Ambulance and Rescue Squad officials, emergency crews responded to calls on Route 22 westbound and Preston and Pennsylvania avenue.

The Brooke County Sheriff's Department reported more than 30 auto accidents occurred between 6 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Sunday. The sheriff's department said a vehicle rolled over on state Route 27 and on state Route 2 near Beech Bottom, but neither accident resulted in serious injuries.

Accidents also were reported on U.S. Route 22 in Weirton, state Routes 67 and 88 and Eldersville Road, most of them involving vehicles that had slid off the roads, said sheriff's deputies.

The Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 26 wrecks were handled by troopers and more than two dozen motorists were provided assistance Sunday morning.

Steubenville Police handled numerous wrecks, mostly fender benders, between 6 a.m. and 8 a.m. Sunday.

Tom Corey, ODOT Jefferson County garage manager, said 13 trucks were on the roads prior to the rain beginning. The temperature of the roads was low because of bitter cold weather experienced the past several days. Corey said the rain froze instantly on the highways.

"A lot of the veteran drivers with 25 years of experience said they never remembered rain freezing so fast on the roads. It was the worst ice in recent memory," Corey said.

ODOT drivers found themselves in the thick of the mess, trying to navigate around wrecks, stranded vehicles and motorists that had left their vehicles and were walking along the side of the road, Corey said. Most of the ODOT drivers had to stop and put on tire chains because the roads were so icy.

Corey said the area was lucky the icy weather hit on a Sunday morning.

"We were blessed it was a Sunday morning. If it had been today (Monday), it would have been a worse mess," Corey said.