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Don’t drive on icy North Texas roads Tuesday, Wednesday; 1 dead in Arlington because of weather

North Texans should not be driving if at all possible on Tuesday and Wednesday as road conditions will worsen with additional sleet and freezing rain expected through Thursday morning, officials say.

As of 3 p.m. Tuesday, 34 hours into the winter storm, MedStar ambulance crews had responded to 151 motor vehicle accidents, including 19 rollover crashes. Most of the crashes occurred Monday and early Tuesday morning.

Fort Worth police responded to 150 traffic accidents on Monday and 75 as of 3 p.m. Tuesday. Fort Worth officers also responded to several calls of drivers stranded on streets and highways because of icy conditions. Patrol officers have been sent to locations including East Loop 820, W. Seminary Drive, E. Rosedale Street and E. Vickery Boulevard and S. Beach Street

Dozens of major traffic accidents with injuries were reported in cities throughout North Texas as drivers tried to move through icy roads and highways.

Vehicles slowly drive on Interstate 30 near downtown Fort Worth on Tuesday, January 31, 2022. Winter storm and ice storm warnings are extended through 6 a.m. Thursday and freezing rain is expected most of Tuesday and Wednesday, officials said.
Vehicles slowly drive on Interstate 30 near downtown Fort Worth on Tuesday, January 31, 2022. Winter storm and ice storm warnings are extended through 6 a.m. Thursday and freezing rain is expected most of Tuesday and Wednesday, officials said.

A 45-year-old man was killed Monday night in a single-vehicle rollover crash in Arlington where the driver was believed to be traveling at unsafe speeds for the slick conditions on the roadways, Arlington police said.

The name of the man who died had not been released as of Tuesday.

Arlington police responded to the fatal crash at about 8:45 p.m. Monday in the eastbound lanes of Interstate 20 near the Green Oaks Boulevard entrance ramp.

Witnesses told officers that the driver of a black 1997 Toyota 4Runner appeared to lose control as the SUV was crossing the Green Oaks Boulevard overpass. The 4Runner slid into the guardrail, went airborne and rolled down an embankment. The driver, who police believe was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle. He was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.

Arlington police urged residents to stay home if they do not need to be on the roadways during this winter weather event. If travel is necessary, drivers should adjust to road conditions by significantly reducing their speed, leaving additional space between their vehicle and the vehicle in front of them, and accelerating and braking slowly.

“If you can, it’s best to stay home,” said Val Lopez with the Texas Department of Transportation in Fort Worth on Tuesday morning. “There are already some spots that are difficult.”

Most major highway surrounding Fort Worth are covered in ice, according to a TxDOT map of road conditions that is updated at drivetexas.org.

Lopez noted that Interstate 20 in Parker County was causing problems, with hundreds of drivers stuck in a backlog of eastbound traffic early Tuesday morning. He pointed out that TXDOT had 150 pieces of equipment that would be available on different shifts to work on icy roads.

In Denton, northbound I-35W was closed at Crawford Road due to a jackknifed 18-wheeler blocking all lanes. I-35W traffic was being diverted at Crawford over to 377.

As of 5:40 a.m. Tuesday, WFAA-TV reported the next round of freezing rain and sleet was moving in from the south. Freezing rain and sleet coverage increased for Dallas-Fort Worth through the morning hours. There was a break in the afternoon before precipitation was expected to resume in the evening.

The winter storm warning has been extended until 6 a.m. Thursday for Dallas and eastern counties, while Tarrant and western counties will be under an ice storm warning — meaning more freezing rain instead of sleet, according to the National Weather Service in Fort Worth. Widespread icing on streets is expected with travel significantly impacted through Wednesday night., authorities said.

Major travel impacts are possible Tuesday and Wednesday across most of North and Central Texas. Freezing rain and sleet will become widespread and worsen road conditions.
Major travel impacts are possible Tuesday and Wednesday across most of North and Central Texas. Freezing rain and sleet will become widespread and worsen road conditions.

The ice storm warning is expected to bring an increased risk of damage to power lines and trees.

The daytime highs on Wednesday will remain in the upper 20s.

MedStar also has treated 13 patients suffering from hypothermia, with 12 transported to hospitals and seven in serious condition. Eleven patients were injured in falls from slipping on ice.

Tire tracks break up icy roads in Fort Worth on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Winter storm conditions have extended through Thursday morning as freezing rain continues.
Tire tracks break up icy roads in Fort Worth on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. Winter storm conditions have extended through Thursday morning as freezing rain continues.

As of 11:30 p.m. Monday, MedStar has suspended the use of lights and sirens when responding to calls. This is out of an abundance of caution to prevent crashes caused by drivers trying to move out of the way of ambulances and to prevent ambulance crashes on the way to calls.

“An ambulance that does not arrive on the scene of an emergency is not able to help patients!” MedStar said in an email. “It’s better, and safer, to respond a little slower, assure we arrive, and don’t cause any injuries on the way to the call.”

Officials with the NWS in Fort Worth said difficult travel is expected with the potential to become life-threatening.

What to keep in your car

You probably shouldn’t be out driving, but in case you must: MedStar, whose paramedics have been scrambling to dozens of crashes, recommends keeping an emergency kit in your vehicle.

Ice scraper? Check. Water and snacks? Just in case. Extra warm clothing? A must. Here’s what else you should keep in the trunk.