Ice and Fog Contribute to Overnight Vehicle Wrecks in Hall County, Georgia

HALL COUNTY, GA- Wsbtv.com writes that an eight-vehicle wreck took place on Interstate 985 close to Friendship Road. Police reported that the incident was likely the result of icy pavement. Another incident occurred on Donald Lee Parkway over the weekend. That collision caused one fatality, but reports have not indicated whether ice was a factor.*

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) was instructing drivers not to drive until the salt trucks were able to perform their jobs and make the roads safer. The ice and snow thawed during the day, but that moisture then turned to ice once again when the temperature dropped at night. GDOT was working to remove the ice and clear the roads for traffic. Several counties around the state urged drivers to stay off the road due to the icy winter weather conditions. Some counties stated that there were abandoned vehicles off the side of the road. In Gilmer County, the police opened a warming shelter for those who were stuck on the road to use until they could get home. Many roads were officially closed down, and reports indicated that some bridges were covered in ice. People in Georgia were told to stay off the road and avoid driving unless it was absolutely necessary. 

According to the Federal Highway Administration states that about 5,000 people die in the United States because of crashes that are caused by bad weather conditions. Rain is the leading cause of these wrecks, but snow and ice also cause many collisions. It is important to slow down when driving in inclement weather. In some cases, the only safe choice is to stay home.

Accident News is a safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Source:https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/stay-off-roads-police-warn-deteriorating-road-conditions/DMWRMTI7SJF5ZO4XMWZX7R7DX4/ and https://ops.fhwa.dot.gov/weather/q1_roadimpact.htm