Tuesday Night Ice on Highway Crash Thread

As the roads froze in 28-degree outside air temperature and light drizzle, crashes all over town due to ice began. Loop 306 is littered with the carnage of cars and pickups in wrecks, secondary wrecks and new wrecks happening before the previous wrecks are cleared up.

Some cars that would otherwise been towed have first responders asking crash victims to try to clear the roadway of their vehicles on their own power, if able.

Here is a rundown of crashes:

• 10:34 p.m. - Crash with injuries on the the Avenue L bridge across Concho River. Driver was thrown into windshield. Glass shards reported to be in his head.
• 10:34 p.m. - City of San Angelo closed Mathis Field (KSJT) until further notice. Citywide trash pickup is cancelled Wednesday.
• 10:00 p.m. - After Taco Bell on Knickerbocker Rd. closed, Twin Peaks held on for as long as it could and is finally calling it a night and closing.
• 9:54 p.m. - Despite warnings not to drive, Houston Harte is backed up for miles near the N. Bryant overpass.
• 9:54 p.m. - Rollover at F.M. 2288 at Arden Rd.with no injuries.
• 9:44 p.m. - Crash on FM 2288 near Grape Creek.
• 9:44 p.m. - N. Bryant has a sheet of ice on it.
• 9:42 p.m. - A Japanese car is on fire behind the Community Hospital. Reports are that it is a Honda.
• 9:42 p.m. - Both crashes on US. 87 N have no injuries.
• 9:20 p.m. - Major crash on U.S. 87 North at Graston Rd. No units on scene yet, as it's quite a ways there on the county line. Medic 11 EMS is enroute.
• 9:20 p.m. - Another major crash on U.S. 87 north in Water Valley.. Rollover, entrapment.
• 9:20 p.m. Rollover with trapped driver at 3600 N. Bryant.
• 9:21 p.m. - San Angelo police advised everyone to stay home, off the roads. And if travel by motor vehicle is absolutely necessary, do not attempt to drive on Loop 306/Houston Harte.
• 9:00 p.m. - So many people are wanting to go to the hospital with minor injuries that they are packing the ambulances and using police squad cars, according to the radio. The crash on Loop 306 near McDonald's where the pictures above were taken is being reported as a 10-car pile-up. We cannot confirm, or get there.
• 8:20 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Two additional crashes on Loop 306/Houston Harte, in addition to the rollover in front of Jim Bass Ford with the driver trapped.
• 8:30 p.m. - Pickup truck rollover crash on Houston Harte in front of Jim Bass Ford
• 8:01 p.m. - 8:20 p.m. - 8 crashes on Loop 306 or Houston Harte - No injuries
• 8:00 p.m. 3900 Houston Harte – No injuries
• 7:59 p.m. 400 Houston Harte – No injuries.
• Prior to 7:59 p.m. : 11 crashes on Loop 306 or Houston Harte Expressway

Advisories

• The onramp next to Olive Garden on Loop 306 is closed.
• The onramp near Chili’s is closed.
• Texas DPS issued an advisory at 8:51 p.m.: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) crews in the San Angelo District are treating bridges and roadways this evening and will continue working through the night. Counties reporting the most sleet and ice include Glasscock, Sterling, Runnels and Tom Green. Travel in these areas is highly discouraged until conditions improve. Multiple crashes have been reported in these counties as conditions continue to deteriorate. The San Angelo District includes the following counties: Glasscock, Sterling, Coke, Runnels, Reagan, Irion, Tom Green, Concho, Menard, Schleicher, Crockett, Sutton, Kimble, Edwards and Real. Drivers are strongly encouraged to check road conditions before deciding to travel tonight or tomorrow morning and travel is strongly discouraged. Road conditions can be found by accessing:
  •   TxDOT’s toll-free highway condition line at (800)-452-9292
  •   TxDOT’s facebook page (Facebook.com/TxDOT)
  •   and/or TxDOT’s Twitter account (Twitter.com/TxDOT) or @TxDOTSanAngelo
• Advisory on Dec. 31, 2014 at 7:30 a.m.:The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) crews in the San Angelo District have worked overnight and will continue to work 12-hour shifts until the ice event is over. The DriveTexas.org website is currently showing 194 conditions, mostly ice, throughout most of the district. The only county currently not reporting icy conditions is Real County (Leakey area) in the southernmost part of the district. Travel is highly discouraged until conditions improve. Multiple crashes have been reported in these counties and the IH 10 corridor is particularly hazardous. The San Angelo District includes the following counties: Glasscock, Sterling, Coke, Runnels, Reagan, Irion, Tom Green, Concho, Menard, Schleicher, Crockett, Sutton, Kimble, Edwards and Real. Drivers are strongly encouraged to check road conditions before deciding to travel today and travel is strongly discouraged. Road conditions can be found by accessing:
  • http://www.drivetexas.org
  • TxDOT’s toll-free highway condition line at (800)-452-9292
  • TxDOT’s facebook page (Facebook.com/TxDOT)
  • and/or TxDOT’s Twitter account (Twitter.com/TxDOT) or @TxDOTSanAngelo