‘They’re sliding into the ditches’: More than 20 accidents in Harris County due to icy roads

Harris County had 20 to 30 accidents by early Wednesday afternoon due to icy roads, according to an emergency management official.

“We’re doing great; if we can just keep people off the highways we’d be doing better,” said Monty Davis, the county’s 911/Emergency Management Agency Director. “There are a lot of people riding around looking at the pretty snow, but they’re sliding of into the ditches and hitting other cars, because we still have a lot of icy patches.”

Davis said Harris County received anywhere from an inch to three inches of snow depending on location. He said temperatures remained below freezing, and he cautioned residents to be careful.

“We just ask people if they don’t have to go out, please stay inside,” he said, “because there are spots that are clear and spots that are nothing but a clear sheet of ice.”

Davis said accidents have occurred on Interstate 185 as well as other roads throughout the county. So far, there have been no injuries. The hazardous weather conditions were expected to extend well into Thursday, he said.

“It’s not going to snow anymore, but the moisture that’s out there is going to remain frozen, because - for the most part - we’re not going to get above freezing today,” he said. “If we do, it’s just going to be an hour or two at best. So whatever is on the ground - the snow that has melted - is just going to become a solid sheet of black ice.”

Harry Lange, Harris County commission chairman, said the snow is a pretty sight “as long as you don’t have to be out in it.”

“I think we made the correct call last night closing the schools and closing the government offices,” he said. “County crews have been outside since last night trying to sand the roads, but there are a lot of roads still not passable.

“So we encourage everyone to stay in unless they absolutely have to get out,” he said. “It’s supposed to stay cold most of the day, but by late afternoon we will make a call regarding whether we will stay closed tomorrow or not.”

This story was originally published January 17, 2018 at 12:26 PM with the headline "‘They’re sliding into the ditches’: More than 20 accidents in Harris County due to icy roads."