Slick Roads Cause Early Morning Wrecks

This car fell victim to slick conditions on East Indiana Avenue outside Southern Pines this morning. Glenn M. Sides

As of Thursday, December 16, 2010

A mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain made travel treacherous for Moore County motorists early today.

The area was under a winter weather advisory early, and before the rain and warmer temperatures arrived by mid-morning there were some wrecks.

The local office of the N.C. Highway Patrol reported a high volume of minor wrecks throughout Moore and portions of Hoke County.

County Fire Marshal Ken Skipper said the county roads were dotted with patchy ice throughout the early morning. At 8 a.m., Skipper said there had been multiple car wrecks.

"We've had a couple (wrecks) near Vass-Lakeview, others near 24-27 west of Carthage and some in Southern Pines,” Skipper said. "The worst vehicle wrecks have been near Vass."

U.S. 1 Bypass between Vass and Cranes Creek Road exit was closed early today because slick road conditions caused several wrecks.

In Pinehurst a car overturned on N.C. 211 before 6 a.m. and there were several reports of cars pulled off to the side of the road on Fort Bragg Road and other reports of wrecks in the northern end of the county.

At 5:50 a.m. Ben Zuniga-Ortiz, 32, of Albuquerque, N.M., was driving his 2000 Ford Explorer west on N.C. 211 when it ran off the road and into a ditch near the intersection of N.C. 211 and Murdocksville Road.

“He hit some ice and that caused him to go in the ditch and caused his vehicle to overturn,” said Capt. Floyd Thomas of the Pinehurst police.

Zuniga-Ortiz was not hurt, but was cited for careless and reckless driving, Thomas said.

Early this morning there were reports that cars were pulled off to the side of the road on Fort Bragg Road. There also were several reports of wrecks in the northern end of the county.

Moore County Schools, the O’Neal School and Sandhills Community College closed today because of the inclement weather. The make-up date for public schools is Feb. 21.

In preparation for the possibility of icy roads, NC Department of Transportation work crews treated roads on Wednesday with de-icing solution.

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TooHot 2 years, 5 months ago

Ahhh! Paradise......

xemrac 2 years, 5 months ago

TPo3 probably requested the wintry weather to cause the roads to become more dangerous so more accidents could occur so that more drunk drivers could be found so that more people could be put in the federal prison. (it wasn't easy to work the jail into that)

SoPinesNo1 2 years, 5 months ago

Xemrac, has Toda enlisted another jailmate, or are the half dozen or so that exist continuing to post under multiple user names?

A friend of mine just called to say he arrived at work in Raleigh without any problems. Drive like you have some sense, and it will be just another day, only with a slower commute.

member 2 years, 5 months ago

@ SoPinesNo1--I'm guessing your friend didn't take many back roads to Raleigh did he? From what I'm hearing from reports on the news from the DOT is that secondary roads are the worst. I hope all who are out on the roads are taking it slow and easy today and are only out if they absolutely must be!

SoPinesNo1 2 years, 5 months ago

I realize that the picture posted is not completely clear nor high resolution, but I certainly would not venture out on the roads with tires that slick. Any vehicle out on wet and slick roads should be in good condition, and equipped good tires. And most important of all, a driver that realizes these conditions and drives accordingly.

Think people, think.