A late week snowstorm led to more than a dozen car accidents Friday, but despite icy conditions not a single accident was reported Saturday according to law enforcement.
Mississippi Highway Patrol Sgt. Derrick Beckom told The Dispatch Friday that Troop G responded to 12 crashes Thursday night and Friday morning, along with 16 more vehicles stranded in the cold. He said the crash tally only counts accidents resulting in property damage and there were several more incidents of people sliding off the road and resuming their trip without incident.
“This is kind of normal, from past experiences,” he said. “It’s normally worse on those first days. That said, we’re looking for it to freeze over again tonight, so it could be worse … Saturday (morning). That’s when you’re looking at black ice, though maybe it could be bad enough that people stay home.”
When reached again Saturday morning Beckom said there hadn’t been any major incidents and only four more Friday crashes after that initial tally.
“We haven’t had any big incidents, it’s been all quiet around us, thank goodness,” he said. “We’re back to normal shifts. … We finished with a total of 16 crashes Friday but nothing overnight.”
Beckom said a typical night would only have two or three crashes. He and the other officials consulted squarely blamed the spike on the wave of snow and cold weather that hit the region Thursday, dropping temperatures to 19 degrees and prompting overnight warming shelters to open their doors.
No traffic injuries were reported by law enforcement in Lowndes or Oktibbeha County Friday or Saturday.
Starkville Police Department Public Information Officer Sgt. Brandon Lovelady said the patrol sergeant on duty reported seeing no wrecks or notable slide-offs Thursday night or Friday morning.
Oktibbeha County Sheriff’s Office Capt. Brett Watson said Friday deputies encountered only one accident that morning, along Highway 12 West. It was relatively minor, involving only a single car with one person in it going into a ditch by the roadway.
Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins told The Dispatch Friday that three traffic incidents occurred Thursday night and Friday morning on county roads. Those were all minor accidents involving cars slipping off the road.
Beckom advised drivers to take precautions like driving carefully, keeping blankets or warm clothing in your car and checking your cell phone charge before leaving.
AAA says it is important to drive slowly and avoid any sudden turns. If you do find your car slipping on ice, stay calm and don’t make sharp changes. Ease into your brakes slowly and make a gentle turn toward where you want to go. If you hear a loud grinding sound from your brakes, that could be the anti-lock braking system installed in many cars helping your tires keep traction on the road.
Beckom said the best option, however, is to simply avoid any unnecessary trips while ice is on the roads.
“You don’t want to be stranded out here,” Beckom said.
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