FORT WORTH, Texas – Freezing rain has caused dangerous and icy conditions on many roads in North Texas. Here’s an overview of what drivers are facing across the area.
FOX 4 Meteorologist Evan Andrews said temperatures will stay below freezing all day Tuesday and more rain is in the forecast. This means that anything that falls will stick to the roadway and turn to ice.
“It’s one of those situations where if you’re sitting at home watching, just stay. It will probably get worse as the day goes on,” he said.
MORE: Winter storm warning for North Texas extended through Thursday
Follow below for live updates on the winter storm in Dallas. Mobile users Press here.
Tarrant County
TxDOT Fort Worth District provides up-to-date information on road conditions
Texas Department of Transportation crews in Fort Worth will be working long hours to clear the roads. Good Day spoke with TxDOT’s Val Lopez in Fort Worth about how pre-treated roads are holding up and where sand trucks are being used. Besides, it will soon be time to get the plows out.
Dozens of people in Fort Worth had to be sent to the hospital Monday after freezing rain caused multiple car crashes.
MedStar officials said that in the past 24 hours, crews have responded to more than 142 crashes, including 16 rollovers. Eight people were treated for hypothermia. Seven of them were taken to area hospitals, and five are in serious condition. Another nine people were injured in serious falls after slipping on the ice.
The Texas Department of Transportation has treated many of the area’s major roads with brine, but there are still some dangerous areas, such as a stretch of Highway 114 near Interstate 35W.
Road conditions are deteriorating in Tarrant County
FOX 4’s Shannon Murray reports live from Tarrant County this morning. She has seen several crashes as drivers try to navigate the icy roads.
The semi trucks are stuck on the road near Texas Motor Speedway and there is a heavy traffic jam behind them.
People traveling through North Texas from out of state were surprised by the weather. The Campbells are headed to Daytona Beach, Florida.
“We had no idea. When we left Branson, it was sunny and warm. And when we got to Tulsa, it was cold,” said Richard Campbell.
Chip Wagoner’s map was all red because of the many crashes in North Texas around 9 a.m. Tuesday.
Gerardo Gutierrez drives for Uber and Lyft. He shared some advice for those who absolutely must hit the road.
“They want to drive like it’s dry out, and it’s not,” he said. “I’m just taking my time. We’ll get there when we get there.”
RELATED: Ice on I-20 causes 20-mile traffic backup in Palo Pinto and Parker counties
Denton County
Black ice and slush cover Denton County roads
Icy conditions made for dangerous driving conditions Tuesday morning in Denton. FOX 4’s Tisia Musinga looks at the conditions that make many 18-wheelers struggle.
It took FOX 4 crews nearly two hours just to get from Dallas to Denton because of the ice on the roads. There were many stranded vehicles along with tow trucks and wreckers trying to get them off the roadway.
In Lewisville, an 18-wheeler slid on some ice on southbound Interstate 35 and went over the guardrail.
Half the platform ended up on one side of the railing and the other half was on the other side, next to the upper sign support.
Crews moved the sign to the service road. They still need to check the structural integrity of the sign.
The service road remains closed at Business 121.
The FOX 4 crew also witnessed several 18-wheelers stuck on a bridge near the Denton Buc-ee’s. Another semi-trailer slid back and blocked traffic. State troopers had to direct traffic to get around that half-season.
RELATED: Icy roads cause several crashes, stop traffic in North Texas Monday
Dallas County
TxDOT Dallas District provides up-to-date information on road conditions
Road conditions are treacherous in North Texas and are expected to worsen as the day progresses. FOX 4 spoke with Kenna Mitchell of the Texas Department of Transportation, Dallas Area for an update on current conditions.
The city of Dallas says it has about 42 sandblasting trucks working on bridges and major roads, but some people are still going the extra mile to help people who are stuck.
Realtor Patrick Abel of Garland drove around Dallas County in his SUV Tuesday with the goal of helping people be helpful.
Hunan Reyes stopped to help the driver of an 18-wheeler free himself from the ice. It worked, but his truck got stuck in the process.
Kevin Deras, the driver of the 18-wheeler, tried to return the favor.
“We’re going to have to scrape some ice off those tires so he can get some traction,” Deras said.
He dug into the ice, but the street was too slippery for Reyes to get out.
That’s where Abel and his jeep came in.
“Just to have fun. Picking people up, taking them to work, checking houses, doing what we do,” he said.
Abel and his Jeep managed to get the big truck moving.
Abel said he helped 25 people on the roads.
“I’m a real estate agent, just playing because I can’t show houses,” he said.
People getting stuck on the roads was a common sight on Tuesday, and Abel wasn’t the only good Samaritan helping out.
“I went to try to get into the Burger King and it was like smashed right here,” Greg Foster said. “Just like I’m going to pull over and try to help this guy.”
Foster stopped to help Andre Owens’ Chevy Silverado, which was stuck in the ice.
Driver dies after going ‘into the air’ from icy Arlington overpass, witnesses say
“I was just trying to go around this curb right here and I got stuck,” Owens said.
Eventually, Foster was able to free Owens.
“Being a good Samaritan, he came and helped me, so I’m very grateful for that,” Owens said.
Collin County
Pre-treated freeways like the Central Expressway and the Dallas North Tollway between Dallas and Plano were fine early Tuesday morning. But they’re starting to get icy now that it’s sleeting again.
FOX 4’s Hannah Bata said the sails are now covered in a layer of ice. The driver in front of her had their hazard lights on and everyone was driving slowly.
Collin County roads are icy as winter hits North Texas
Drive along with FOX 4’s Hannah Bata through Plano this morning, where ice and slush made road conditions very dangerous for drivers.
On Monday, dozens of drivers were involved in a crash in Plano on the Central Expressway exit ramp to Plano Parkway.
The driver, Varshil Parikh, said he was traveling about 35 mph when he crashed into a FedEx truck.
“I tried to break, but I couldn’t,” he recalled. “So I just tried to hit the brakes. Stop it. I hit the brakes. Stop it.’
Plano firefighters said that from that point on, the cars were traveling back to back. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.
Further north near McKinney, traffic conditions are slightly worse. Only one lane of traffic was running on Hwy. 75 south of Hwy. 121 converge near Anna and Melissa on Tuesday morning.
All TEXpress operated lanes in the area remain closed due to bad weather.
Live traffic conditions
For the latest traffic updates, download FOX 4 Fastlane app or follow Traffic reporter Chip Wagoner on Twitter.
Add Comment