Slick, hazardous conditions cause nearly 200 crashes statewide

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — It was a long and busy day for road crews and law enforcement. Troopers have one message during these conditions: stay home if you can.

"The collisions are starting to increase as we speak," said Trooper Preston Cox with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol.

Conditions were slick and hazardous across the state on Wednesday.

"We're seeing a lot of black ice. We saw that sleet storm that came through," said Katie Eldridge, a public information officer for the Oklahoma Department of Transportation.

News 4 storm trackers spotted several drivers spinning out, running into cable barriers, concrete walls, and rolling over onto the grass.

One crash caused a major backup along the Lake Hefner Parkway.

West of the metro, on I-40 near Radio Road, semi trucks had difficulty driving up a ramp which caused bumper-to-bumper traffic.

Slightly farther west, near Highway 81, another semi hit a guardrail.

Between Calumet and Bridgeport, troopers had to shut down part of westbound I-40.

"That it was a jackknife semi and it was causing a disruption in traffic flow, caused secondary collisions because of the roadways," said Cox.

The Highway Patrol had a busy nine hours.

"In the Troop A metro area alone, 53 non-injury collisions," said Trooper Cox. "And responded to 11 disabled and/or motor assists."

There were also three injury crashes.

"That is a significant amount of collisions," said Cox.

Across the state, Troopers responded to nearly 200 crashes. That number continues to climb as the day goes on.

Law enforcement aren't the only ones who have been busy. ODOT street crews have been out since midnight.

"They will continue to work until the roads are completely clear which may not be until Friday," said Eldridge.

Until then, make sure to give snow plows plenty of room.

"If you see them working, try not to pass them. It's really unsafe," said Eldridge. "Give them about four school busses worth of distance between you and that plow."

Remember, you can always download the Drive Oklahoma app, or use this website, to see real-time traffic cameras.