AUSTIN (KXAN)— Officers and emergency staff across Central Texas said they’ve been responding to dozens of crashes since early Tuesday morning.
As snow and ice accumulated on roads, ice thickened and created slick and dangerous conditions.
Round Rock Police on X pleaded with people to stay home. The department told KXAN between 2 a.m. and just after 1p.m. Tuesday they had already responded to 21 motorist assist calls and 35 crashes.
Austin-Travis County EMS (ATCEMS) said its officers had responded to 16 collisions between midnight and 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) cameras also caught big crashes. One in particular showed a big rig on Interstate 35 South crash and then leak fuel onto the roadway. The Mustang Ridge Police Department shared photos of a rollover crash with multiple injuries.
KXAN also received a number of videos showing the slick road’s impact on vehicles. One video showed a truck’s wheels spinning out on the ice.
By Tuesday afternoon, the sun came out in some areas melting the snow. However, officials urge everyone to proceed with caution.
“While it may look like all of the ice is mostly melted or completely melted away, the reality is, you just don’t know,” ATCEMS Captain Christa Stedman said. “There’s going to be moisture on the roadways tonight, there’s still the potential that we could refreeze.”
