RSS
|
Mobile
|
Daily Emails
|
We Twitter
| Make us your home page
Local authorities on Monday urged motorists to drive carefully this holiday season following at least five weather-related wrecks Monday morning in Brazos County.
Department of Public Safety Sgt. Charles Booker said motorists need to pay attention as increased traffic and severe weather can make driving dangerous. He said it's important to look at weather reports before driving.
"If they're talking about freezing rain of low temperatures, it probably won't be a good idea for you to dirve at night when temperatures would be lower than they would be in the daytime," he said. "If you have to dirve, use caution in driving over bridges or any area that's elevated over the regular portion of the roadway."
National Weather Service meteorologists issued a freezing rain advisory for motorists in Brazos County from 10 p.m. Monday through early Tuesday morning.
Meteorologist Robert Van Hoven said the temperature should rise Tuesday with highs in the lows 60s, rain in the morning and scattered showers in the afternoon.
Temperatures Monday remained between 29 and 36 degrees throughout the day, Van Hoven said.
Officials said icy weather contributed to the accidents early Monday.
Details of people involved and injured in the five accidents were not immediately available Monday evening, although Booker said several people were taken to local hospitals.
Officials said the first accident occurred at Texas 6 and Peach Creek Road in College Station around 5 a.m. Another accident occurred at the same location about an hour later.
A third was along the Texas 6 feeder road near the Jockey Lot & Flea Market in College Station aroudn 6:25 a.m.
Another wreck occurred on Texas 6 north of Westward Ho in Brazos County around 7:41 a.m.
The most serious accidents occurred between 6:20 a.m. and 6:50 a.m. near the intersection of Texas 21 and Andert Road in Wixon Valley.
Booker said the driver of a pickup lost control while crossing a bridge over Mathis Creek in the westbound lane of Texas 21.
He said ice on the bridge caused the vehicle to spin out of control, veer off the right side of the road and roll over once.
While the vehicle's occupants, a woman and three 12-year-old girls, were exiting the vehicle, Booker said, another driver lost control of his vehicle over the same bridge and struck one of the girls.
She was taken to St. Joseph Regional Health Center, where she was treated and released, he said.
A motorist who stopped to offer aid rushed the girls up the embankment to prevent more serious injuries.
"If it hadn't been for another motorist who stopped to help, it probably would have been pretty serious," Booker said.
About 30 minutes later, Booker said, a third driver lost control of his vehicle at the same spot. The vehicle rolled onto its left side into the eastbound lane of Texas 21.
The drivers of the three vehicles were not taken to the hospital.
Brazos County Sheriff Chris Kirk urged motorists to pay attention to dangerous areas on the road during cold weather.
"Try to be aware that ice can form like it did [Monday] morning unexpectedly and make it very hazardous to drive, especially over bridges," he said.
Booker also asked drivers to be careful through Christmas and New Year's Day, when holiday traffic typically increases.
He asked those leaving holiday celebrations to remember not to drink alcohol when driving and to leave in time to arrive at their destinations without breaking the speed limit.
