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Car crashes on icy Gastonia road due to broken water main

GASTONIA, N.C. — Police said a broken water main caused ice to form across a road in Gastonia, leading to a crash early Wednesday morning.

Emergency crews responded around 6:40 a.m. to Stagecoach Road at Holder Road after a car crashed and overturned. Nobody in the car was hurt, police said.

Officials told Channel 9 that the vehicle slid on ice that was created after a water line broke and leaked water across Stagecoach Road.

A witness saw water bubbling up from an underground water line break.

It turned to ice in the sub-freezing temperatures.

"I've already seen cars slip and slide all down the road,” Dustin Welch said.

Authorities have laid sand across the road to help with traction.

Water line breaks are occurring often.

There have been breaks in Blowing Rock, all over Charlotte and Wednesday morning, in Bessemer City.

"I like to have water when I turn the spigot on,” neighbor Martha Wallen said.

Crews worked on the break just up the street on Edgewood Road.

"We can't take a bath,” Wallen said.

"Get the sun out today, maybe it will help a little bit,” neighbor Leslie Hurst said.

Jamie Ramsey, the assistant city manager, said heat may not be helpful.

He said the thawing and freezing causes vibrations underground that stress water lines.

"Seems like a week or 10 days ago. We were probably pushing 70 degrees,” Ramsey said. "Usually your bigger main leaks happen in winter months, January or February."

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