ROCKY MOUNTY, Mo. – Rocky Mount Fire Protection District firefighters fought the elements Friday morning responding to 10 car accidents after the lake area was hit with an unexpected frozen rain.
According to Rocky Mount Fire Protection District Fire Chief Kevin Hurtibise, personnel responded to eight car crashes on Route Y and two on W.
“These two roads are hilly and they were icy and everyone got out and tried to drive on them,” Hurtibise said.
To add to the problem, the district roads are maintained and salted by two different road crews, one from Eldon and the other from Versailles, and neither one knew how bad the roads were going to be so salt had not been applied.
Once the trucks from Versailles Road District arrived they were unable to move on the icy roads.
Firefighters assisted the crews by putting chains on their tires so they could begin applying more salt in anticipation of continued freezing throughout the weekend.
No traction on ice
Hurtibise reminds motorists that even four-wheel drive vehicles do not have traction on ice. “You can get a little traction on snow and a four-wheel drive will give you little extra going forward, but when it comes time to stop you will have four tires sliding on the ice,” he said.
Hurtibise advises travelers to check the Missouri Department of Transportation website before driving at www.modot.org. “Use your eyes – if there is ice on sidewalks or on your car then there is ice on the roads,” he advised.
