Sleet, Freezing Rain Mean Dangerous Driving Conditions for Charlotte

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CHARLOTTE, NC — Pile-ups, sliding cars, sirens, and lots of accidents.  Across the city, red and blue lights flashed with reports of wrecks and cars spinning out of control Monday night.  

Conditions deteriorated quickly as a mix of sleet and freezing rain fell.  MEDIC responded to 61 traffic accidents from 3pm to 7:30pm.  Due to ice, crews shut down the flyover bridge from I-77 South to the I-485 outer loop.  Several other major interstates also closed, including I-85 South at 485, which closed for hours because of an accident.

The Charlotte Department of Transportation has 32 trucks on the road with 64 employees working 12-hour shifts around the clock.  6,500 tons of salt is on hand and the department also has support from NC DOT, with 75 trucks on standby.

If you have to get on the roads overnight or early Tuesday, AAA Carolinas reminds you to leave plenty of room between yourself and other cars.  If you get stuck on the side of the road, stay inside and call for help.  Don’t get out in the weather.  Also, pay extra attention to other drivers.  Often the biggest danger is getting hit by someone else.