Snow, wind causing trouble along I-70

Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Slick and hazardous road conditions in eastern Putnam County led to at least three separate auto accidents on Interstate 70 Wednesday afternoon, backing up traffic and leaving motorists seeking alternate routes. (Courtesy of Cammie Goldman)

Cold, wind and blowing snow are combining to cause havoc along Interstate 70 in western Indiana, especially in Putnam County, east of Cloverdale, Indiana State Police at Putnamville were reporting Wednesday afternoon.

The eastbound lanes of I-70 in the 45- to 46-mile marker area, four to five miles east of Cloverdale, was reported as slick and hazardous.

At least three separate crashes were reported in that area, but only minor injuries were noted.

Troopers were on the scene, ISP Sgt. Joe Watts informed the Banner Graphic about 2:35 p.m.

"Traffic is slow, use caution," Watts urged.

Besides these accidents in eastern Putnam County, Putnamville troopers responded to more than two dozen accidents along I-70 between midnight and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.

These included 24 property damage crashes, two personal injury crashes (only minor injuries) and four slideoffs.

The concentration of the crashes was in Vigo County between the state line and the seven-mile marker. This seven-mile stretch was the site of multiple crashes involving commercial motor vehicles and passenger cars.

In one particular crash near the six-mile marker, an SUV traveled over the guardrail and into a wooded area. The driver sustained a minor cut and his three-year-old daughter received no injuries due to her being properly restrained in a child safety seat.

I-70 was down to one lane numerous times and was only closed for a very few minutes at various times to upright overturned vehicles.

The overwhelming cause of most crashes was drivers not slowing down for the slick and hazardous interstate.

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