The National Weather Service has declared a winter storm warning for 17 southern Indiana counties along the Ohio River, predicting several inches of snow beginning at 7 p.m. Eastern. In addition, accumulating snow is predicted for all of Indiana south of the I-70 corridor.

Indiana Department of Transportation maintenance supervisors are closely monitoring evolving local forecasts. INDOT will deploy its yellow plow trucks ahead of any predicted accumulation on Indiana’s interstates, U.S. highways and state routes. For social media updates, find the INDOT Facebook and Twitter pages for your regional district at www.in.gov/indot/3074.htm.

Conditions worst during storm

INDOT will adjust its deployment of manpower, trucks and materials as appropriate to address changes in forecasted and observed road conditions. Trained INDOT employees are on call to staff plow trucks around the clock with alternating shifts of 12 hours or more.

Each INDOT plow route takes 2-3 hours to complete with salt assisting in melting between passes. INDOT urges drivers to reschedule optional trips as road conditions will be the worst during and shortly after winter precipitation.

With the heaviest snow predicted to continue through the Monday morning rush, drivers are encouraged to make room for INDOT’s yellow plow trucks so they can complete their routes. Roads clogged from crashes or rush-hour congestion prevent plow trucks from clearing and treating highways in a timely manner.

Low temperatures

With temperatures dipping well below freezing, road salt has to work harder to melt accumulated snow and ice. INDOT may mix road salt with sand or specialty chemicals that help it work more effectively in these conditions.

Sub-freezing temperatures increase the chances of melt-water refreezing into “black ice” or “slick spots” that may be difficult for drivers to distinguish from dry pavement. Even four-wheel-drive vehicles and large trucks are no match if all tires are on ice.

Driver tips

If you must venture out, drivers should follow these tips:

• Know before you go by checking the red-yellow-green traffic speeds on your mobile map app of choice or INDOT’s TrafficWise service athttp://indot.carsprogram.org, 800-261-ROAD or 511 on your mobile phone.
• Choose direct routes instead of longer routes on higher-speed arterials.
• Take your foot off the gas and slow down gradually, especially on high-speed highways. No one should be traveling at interstate speeds during these conditions.
• Turn off cruise control.
• Apply anti-lock brakes firmly. Pump brakes that are not anti-lock. Do not overcorrect with steering.

In partnership with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security the Indiana State Police is sharing this important weather related message.

With difficult travel expected in southern Indiana from Sunday night into Monday, motorists should consider if travel is necessary and prepare accordingly.

If travelers are involved in a crash or slide-off, encounter vehicle trouble, become stuck in the snow or otherwise have to stop during a car trip, it’s important to stay calm and remain in the vehicle. A vehicle is nearly always the best protection stranded motorists have from the wind and snow. Continue wearing seat belts, which can offer protection in the event of a collision after becoming stranded.

Drifting snow can make it difficult for other drivers to see anyone standing on or near roads. Leave traffic direction and other assistance to public safety professionals. “Certainly, if it’s a life-threatening situation, someone may need help,” said John Erickson with IDHS. “In general, however, it’s best to stay with your vehicle.”

Below freezing temperatures and the wind can create a dangerous situation where frostbite can occur in about 30 minutes or less. Stay in the vehicle and run the engine every hour for about 10 minutes to stay warm. Make sure the tailpipe is clear of snow or other blockage before running the engine to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning. Turn the headlights on when running the engine, so the vehicle can be seen.

Only leave a stranded vehicle if there is better shelter nearby that can be reached safely.

Drivers should slow down and move over for stranded motorists as well as emergency vehicles and snow plows.

Weather related crashes first started being reported to the Indiana State Police Toll Road Post around 9:15 this morning.  The Indiana Toll Road continues to be affected by reports of white-out conditions along with sub-zero temperatures.

The National Weather Service (NWS) has issued a ‘Blizzard Warning’ for Elkhart, LaPorte, St. Joseph, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall, and Starke Counties until 10:00 p.m. Sunday, February 15^th.  The Indiana Toll Road passes through each of these counties.  The NWS advisory warned visibility will be reduced to near zero at times with whiteout conditions. Blowing and drifting snow can be expected along with bitterly cold wind chills, from 10 to 25 below zero.  Moderate to heavy lake effect snow accumulations are expected during the span of the warning.

Separate from problems on the Toll Road there have been other crashes reported across northeastern Indiana.

Some of the more significant traffic related incidents included a crash involving around 20 vehicles that occurred earlier this afternoon in Whitley County.  This crash was on US 30, west of Columbia City and resulted in the closure of the east and westbound lanes of US 30 near West Lincoln Way.  As of 3:30 this afternoon all lanes were reopened.

The foul weather also impacted traffic on I-69 early this afternoon.  State police officers, along with county sheriff deputies from Delaware and Grant County, responded to numerous reports of crashes and slide offs on I-69 and adjacent State and County roads.  The high winds and snow in this weather system created hazardous driving conditions through the afternoon.  These conditions can be expected to continue.

State police troopers from the Pendleton and Peru Posts originally responded to the report of a vehicle crash involving 30 or more vehicles in the southbound lanes of I-69, near the 249 mile marker, which is just four miles north of the US 35 / State Road 28 exit.   Deputies from the Delaware County Sheriff’s Department also responded and investigated a four vehicle injury crash in the north bound lanes of I-69.  Among the vehicles involved in the crash there was one school bus, five semi-tractor trailer vehicles and more than 20 passenger vehicles involved in clusters of crashes over a quarter mile area around the 249 mile marker.

At least six people were transported to IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, in Muncie, with unknown injuries.  Though not injured, all the students aboard the school bus were transported to the hospital to remove them from the crash scene and get them out of the inclement weather.

INDOT and Delaware County EMA responded to shut down both directions of I-69, northbound at State Road 28 and southbound at State Road 26.  The northbound lanes opened after 3:30 this afternoon and one southbound lane was reopened late this afternoon with expectation that all southbound lanes should be open by 9:00 this evening.  The major complication at this scene has been the lengthy time required to offload a crashed FedEx truck.

All told, the Indiana State Police report that from 6:00 this morning until 6:00 this evening there were 48 personal injury crashes, 150 property damage crashes, 50 reports of vehicles sliding off the road and 82 motorists received some form of assistance from state police personnel.  Fortunately, thus far, there has been no loss of life.  The majority of the reported incidents have been along the Toll Road and Northeast I-69, as well as State and County Roads

People living in the area of the NWS Blizzard Warning are encouraged to avoid travel except in the case of an emergency.

Avoid calling local law enforcement or the state police to ask about road and weather conditions.  Public safety phone lines need to be kept clear for true emergency calls.  The BEST source for local weather condition reports and safety recommendations is from your local radio and TV news service.

If you MUST travel, check road conditions by visiting INDOT’s website at www.in.gov/indot before you start your trip.