Local

Temps remain low as icy roads blamed for numerous crashes

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. — Icy conditions made for hazardous driving conditions on roadways around the Charlotte area Tuesday morning.

The majority of the icy issues were north of Charlotte Tuesday morning.

The Department of Transportation treated roadways throughout the night to prevent ice from forming, but many roads north of the Queen city became slick as a number of crashes were reported.

MEDIC told Channel 9 that between midnight and 9 a.m. they responded to 13 crashes and had to take a total of seven people to the hospital.

One wreck happened on Interstate 77 near Interstate 485 around 11 p.m. Crews decided to shut down the flyover ramps from I-77 to I-485 Tuesday morning because of the ice.

Another crash happened on I-77 north, near Troutman. State troopers told Channel 9 that an automobile transport hit some ice on the overpass over U.S. 21 just before 1 a.m. That truck jack-knifed and was then hit by another truck, knocking them both into the median.

The driver of the first truck was taken to the hospital but is expected to be OK.

Charlotte firefighters had to close McKee Road at I-485 in both directions around 8 a.m. after a traffic accident involving a CFD vehicle. Officials said the road was covered in a sheet of ice.

Firefighters in Huntersville had to close Palomar Drive near Hambright Road for a few hours because a tree fell in the roadway. Nobody was hurt.

Police were also worked an accident scene on W.T. Harris Blvd. near I-485 around 6 a.m. after a car slid off the road due to icy conditions and hit a guardrail.

Temperatures will warm to above freezing by midday and 40s will return by the afternoon.

The area will see some more light rain or drizzle return overnight into Wednesday, but temperatures should sit above freezing through Wednesday morning.

Areas north of Charlotte will again be close to the freezing point. The temps will start to warm back up with 60s Wednesday 70s by the end of the week.