Crashes already affecting Washtenaw County roads as winter storm rolls in
As another winter storm started to roll into Washtenaw County Tuesday afternoon, dispatchers already are reporting crashes on area roadways.
Rain falls in downtown Ann Arbor as a pedestrian makes her way across the road in this file photo.
A collision between a semi truck and a Chevrolet Blazer at Michigan Avenue and Feldkamp Road was reported in Saline Township. The crash was reportedly blocking part of the roadway but dispatchers said no injuries were reported at this point.
A directional sign was taken out in a crash at Barker Road and Kearney Road on the border of Northfield Township and Webster Township. Dispatchers urged drivers in that area to take extra caution.
The rain coming down in Washtenaw County at 4 p.m. Tuesday was expected to turn into snow later on in the evening. Three to four inches is expected to come in the Ann Arbor area, down from an expectation of six inches that was originally forecast.
Ann Arbor police reported two crashes at Depot Street and Main Street and Washtenaw Avenue near the Arborland Shopping Center.
More crashes were being reported consistently Tuesday afternoon and traffic back ups were reported on all area freeways.
At 5:20 p.m., dispatchers reported there were 13 crashes on roads around Washtenaw County.
A person was injured in a crash on a ramp at Interstate 94 and Ann Arbor-Saline Road, which may cause some slow downs but wasn't on the freeway. Two people refused medical treatment, according to dispatchers.
Crashes at southbound US-23 and Joy Road and westbound M-14 at Gotfredson Road involved cars spun out off the freeway.
Visibility was awful in downtown Ann Arbor at 5:25 p.m. and snow was starting to pile up all over the city. Drivers are urged to stay inside and off the roadways until the storm is clear.
Check back to AnnArbor.com for more information on crashes in the area as the storm continues.
Kyle Feldscher covers cops and courts for AnnArbor.com. He can be reached at kylefeldscher@annarbor.com or you can follow him on Twitter.
Comments
Karen John
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 10:38 a.m.
What I encountered was some very stupid driving on the part of some people show were not focused 110% on their safety. Slow down, back off.
dexterreader
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 4:02 a.m.
I left work at 4:20 this afternoon from central campus in Ann Arbor. The roads were just starting to get bad at that point. After reading some of these comments, I'm very grateful my supervisor sent us home early. Looks like an hour made all the difference!!
Sarah
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 2:21 a.m.
Then there are the pedestrian injuries. Untreated sidewalks and the like, with the slippery sleet/freezing rain covered in snow lead to twisted ankles. (Ow. Rest/ice/compression time)
JRW
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 2:05 a.m.
They knew this storm was coming for nearly 2 days. There is NO excuse for the lack of proactive road treatment, other than lack of professionalism. Other snowy cities use brines and other mixtures to pretreat when ice is coming. Other snowy cities also sue their plows when it snows less than 4". Oh that's right, this is A2. They don't plow here unless it snows 4" or more, and so far that hasn't happened, according to the article. What a stupid and dangerous policy. Send your collision damage bills to the city, folks. No excuse for not using those plows. The roads are dangerous out there.
portia
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 3:33 a.m.
Love the armchair snowplows drivers/supervisors who know so much more than people who have first hand experience of what goes on out there and what works and doesn't. It was raining before it turned to sleet and snow....waste of money, that your bike loving city does not contribute the tax money for maintaniece.
Billy
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 2:04 a.m.
http://64.27.15.44/AnnArbor/Public_Tracking.aspx Should link this in all the stories about snow plows.
Jessica Webster
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 12:59 a.m.
I saw salt trucks on the west side, heading down Huron/Jackson at around 5 or so. Haven't been out on the roads since then though. Has anyone else seen salt trucks?
huh7891
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 1:35 a.m.
I saw several trucks throughout the city while driving west..Plymouth rd and more. I thought to myself ..great won't see everyone on here complaining...wrong! Give them a chance people..it was snowing like crazy around 5:30 .
Ann English
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 1:27 a.m.
Before you posted your comment, I read someone else's post about seeing a salt truck near Washtenaw and Geddes. UM Central Campus area,if the street names cited are right.
Sara
Wed, Feb 27, 2013 : 12:54 a.m.
It took us nearly two hours to go from Plymouth and Earhart via Huron Parkway/Platt to Packard Rd to Ypsilanti. I did not see one salt truck out there from 430 to 620 on any roads from Ann Arbor to Ypsi. The road crews knew this was coming, so there is no excuse. I also witnessed the dumping of salt on dry roads around Eisenhower and Ann Arbor Saline Rd, a couple of weeks back the night before a possible storm. On the radio, I heard that Oakland County was salting roads in advance to prepare for the coming storm. Seems they had the safety of drivers in mind more than our local road commissions do.
ypsicat
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 10:37 p.m.
That should be Feldkamp Road, not Feldcamp.
Kyle Feldscher
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 10:42 p.m.
So it is. That's been corrected.
a2z
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 10:36 p.m.
Road commission caught off guard? Didn't know this was comin today? Pretreated surfaces do not work when it rains for 3 hours before the snow. Penny wise and dollar dumb....
jcj
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 11:10 p.m.
What is your point a2z? Say it plain!
jcj
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 11:09 p.m.
Correct me if I am wrong.But isn't Eisenhower and State city responsibility? I do know the city was dumping tons of salt on dry roads.
djacks24
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 10:55 p.m.
Last week or the week before they were throwing down TONS of salt one evening around Eisenhower and State on dry pavement to the point of bleaching the the asphalt 6-8 hours before it even started snowing. But when the bleep hits the fan, no salt trucks to be found. Funny how in a previous article Harmon brought up the phrase "using resources efficiently" when I've witnessed mostly the opposite.
Dog Guy
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 10:11 p.m.
The faster you go, the bigger the mess.
ViSHa
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 11:35 p.m.
Tell that to the a-wipe who tailgated me all the way home!
SusanRk
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 9:24 p.m.
Trees are already curing over!
justcurious
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 9:42 p.m.
Oh, I thought you meant "curving" over. Accidents continue..everywhere!
SusanRk
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 9:25 p.m.
Icing over, oops.
justcurious
Tue, Feb 26, 2013 : 9:23 p.m.
That's ice coming down out there. The accidents are piling up by the minute. This will not be an easy ride home for many. Now. N.Territorial and just west of Spencer - personal injury..car in trees. I sure hope the salt trucks are out there.