Light snowfall glazes Ann Arbor roads; several crashes reported
Editor's note: The time of a crash has been corrected.
A light snowfall glazed Ann Arbor area roads morning, challenging motorists during the rush-hour commute.
At 7:20 a.m., accidents were reported on eastbound I-94 west of Huron and westbound I-94 west of Michigan Avenue. Neither of those crashes was believed to be blocking the freeway. A rollover crash was reported at Nixon Road and Pontiac Trail about 7:45 a.m.
Southbound US-23 was shut down for a while early this morning because of a serious-injury accident that involved multiple vehicles. A Google map showed a significant residual backup in both directions on the freeway.
The National Weather Service urged motorists to use extra caution and said slick conditions could persist throughout the morning commute.
Later today, cloudy skies should give way to partly sunny conditions. The high will be near 40. Tonight, snow will move in again after midnight with up to an inch of accumulation expected. Lows will range from 26 to 30. Saturday, snow is likely in the morning with up to an inch of additional accumulation expected. The high will be in the low to mid 30s.
Traffic slowdowns are shown in yellow, red and black
Comments
steve h
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:52 p.m.
I demand the road commission squeegee all the water off the roads after they treat with salt. That water can make you hydroplane!
swcornell
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 7:08 p.m.
Is it really the road commission's responsibility to make the roads perfectly safe or is our job to drive responsibly, according to the road conditions?
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.
You said that above.
steve h
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:21 p.m.
I'm upset. When I went to work at 630 am the roads were clear but wet. When are we going to demand the road commissions use giant sponges and squeegees to sop up the water so we don't crash!?! Maybe they should drive me to work in their big trucks so I don't have to learn how to drive in winter
steve h
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 5:25 p.m.
Barring a mechanical failure, EVERY accident can be attributed to poor driving on the part of at least one party. And even with a mechanical failure you could blame the driver for not maintaining their equipment appropriately. Someone needs some metamucil
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:20 p.m.
Depends on the road you were driving on I would think. Obviously some did not have just wet roads. I don't believe that people prefer to crash their vehicles and as you know, I don't believe that every accident is the fault of bad driving.
MgoBlueMomma
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:07 p.m.
Good reply Steve. It amazes me how people think the road commission in responsible for EVERY accident out there. They have no idea what those guys go through.
Sallyxyz
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:08 p.m.
This is what happens when roads are not treated. What is it going to take for people to DEMAND that the city and county use SALT on the roads when snowfall "glazes" the road? How many accidents need to occur on untreated roads before people start making calls to city hall and road commission?
ranger007
Sat, Jan 28, 2012 : 3:23 a.m.
People need to DEMAND people learn how to drive when it snows..I mean if you have a Michigan license you should know but CLEARLY people struggle with it every time it snows...but your right its the road commission and city of ann arbor's fault.
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 7:01 p.m.
WalkingJoe - the picture on the front page with the article.
jcj
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 6:06 p.m.
Sally There is nothing to indicate that the condition of the roads had ANYTHING to do with the two pedestrian accidents. I came by the Miller/Maple accident within minutes. The road was not an issue!
WalkingJoe
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:53 p.m.
Demand salt be put on the roads Sally? I have demanded the Lottery Commission let we win $100 million every time I buy a ticket. You seem to think that every accident in bad weather can be avoided just by putting salt down. It's not realistic.
WalkingJoe
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:45 p.m.
justcurious, I'm just curious, what photo?
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:17 p.m.
The photo above does not look like a treated road, and they could use more sand.
grimmk
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:54 p.m.
Do you know how much salt they use?! And where does it go? Into the ground, into the water and it hurts the environment. It was raining last night. Rain + salt doesn't do any good. People need to be more cautious while driving.
MgoBlueMomma
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:26 p.m.
how do you know that the road were untreated????? They really could have been and it could be that the people involved in the accident were going to fast or pre-occupied with other things and not paying attention. People can crash on dry pavement these days. Oh but wait I am sure you'll come up with a reason then to blame the road commission too.
linuxtuxguy
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:39 p.m.
"A light snowfall glazed Ann Arbor area roads morning" You probably meant "this morning"
Cheri
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:10 p.m.
Personally, I'm excited to know about the accident that will happen at 8:45, considering the article was posted at 7:35 and it's currently only 8:10....
steve h
Sat, Jan 28, 2012 : 3:35 a.m.
no, the problem with online news is just curious
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 4:15 p.m.
I guess this is the problem with online news, things get confusing with future updating.
Cindy Heflin
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:17 p.m.
Cheri: The time of the crash is correct. The article was updated to include this crash after its original post time.
Cheri
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:12 p.m.
I still don't think the time of the crash is correct, even with the edit. The article was still posted before the corrected time of the crash.
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:16 p.m.
huh?
TruBlue
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:04 p.m.
I hope the people in the backup on US23 aren't idling.
heresmine
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:02 p.m.
@justcurious. If you are repeating what you've heard on a scanner, I'm pretty sure that's still illegal. Just Saying.
steve h
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:51 p.m.
Wow! Just curious is really a criminal. Who would have thunk it?
jcj
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 2:39 p.m.
justcurious Finally "there coming to take you away ha ha"! Just kidding I am sure you are old enough to remember that phrase. I was very surprised to find those "laws" I wonder if it has ever been enforced?
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 2:13 p.m.
So I guess I should not have mentioned the 3 horses running down the road. I'm waiting for the FBI to knock on my door now.
jcj
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:49 p.m.
In its simplest form, US Federal laws (Communications Act of 1934, Electronic Communications Privacy Act of 1986, Telecommunications Disclosure & Dispute Resolution Act of 1992, Digital Telephony Bill of 1994) make it illegal to : Repeat what you hear to anyone but the transmitter or intended receiver of the transmission <a href="http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/new_user.html#SEC10" rel='nofollow'>http://www.strongsignals.net/access/content/new_user.html#SEC10</a>
jcj
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:42 p.m.
justcurious I can't believe I found this but here it is for what its worth. Not saying I agree. <a href="http://www.police-scanner.info/scanning/police-scanner-laws.htm" rel='nofollow'>http://www.police-scanner.info/scanning/police-scanner-laws.htm</a>
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:15 p.m.
Really? Please point me to that law. And why do you care?
AfterDark
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 1:07 p.m.
Why is that illegal?
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 12:56 p.m.
Just heard an officer say that "Northbound 23 is backed up, pretty much to Milan."
justcurious
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 12:49 p.m.
What about northbound 23? Road was shut down. Also two car pedestrian accidents in town, one at Miller and Maple, and roll over accidents at Parker and Marshall and on Dixboro. Three horses are also running down the road in Salem Township, Pontiac Trail and Seven Mile. Regular potpourri of accidents and mishaps out there today.
Sallyxyz
Fri, Jan 27, 2012 : 3:09 p.m.
Of course. No salt!