Hundreds Of Crashes Pile Up In Freezing Rain On Massachusetts And New Hampshire Roads
BOSTON (CBS) - Authorities are asking drivers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire to stay home if possible Friday. If not, use extreme caution out on the roads.
Freezing rain and flash freezes are creating hazardous conditions on highways and streets. Police in both states said it's led to multiple crashes and vehicles sliding off the road.
One person died in a crash involving a tractor-trailer truck and another vehicle on Route 495 north in Chelmsford around 6:30 a.m.
Massachusetts State Police said they've responded to "well over 200 crashes with either injuries or property damage" since Thursday night, with patrols "going from one crash to another." New Hampshire State Police tweeted they had responded to 72 crashes since 4 p.m. Thursday.
"Crews are dealing with a challenging storm that is changing from rain to snow and back again which reduces the effectiveness of treatment. Roads are icy in many areas," State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver tweeted.
Here's a list of everyone telling you to stay home today:@MassEMA @MassDOT and every meteorologist, police department, fire department, local DPW and emergency room worker in Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire.
— Burlington Police MA (@burlingtonpd) February 4, 2022
Temperatures will fall throughout the day Friday as the rain comes down.
Seeing multiple cars off the side of the highway as we travel north on 495 through Boxborough, Littleton and Chelmsford. It's sleeting and the roads are very slippery. Dangerous conditions. @wbz pic.twitter.com/KfZ7kEZoaH
— Anna Meiler (@AnnaMeiler) February 4, 2022
If you have to drive Friday, you're advised to go extremely slow or delay your travel until the weather improves.