Snowy county roads create hazards, collisions, slideoffs for reckless drivers

Photo by JARED JERNAGAN Thursday's snow led to various collisions and slideoffs around the county, such as this one on West Walnut St. outside of Greencastle.

With the new influx of snow starting Thursday morning, driving conditions have worsened and put a large stress on county and state police in the area.

Between 7 a.m. and 6 p.m., Putnam County 911 Director David Costin reported 13 total accidents and two reported slide-offs that resulted in property damage.

Between 7 a.m. and 4:20 p.m., state police stationed in Putnamville have responded to 16 motor vehicle crashes -- two with non-life threatening injuries -- 12 slide-offs, nine disabled vehicles and assisted local sheriff's departments with three crashes.

The Putnamville department covers District 58, which encompasses Putnam, Vermillion, Clay, Vigo, Sullivan and Parke counties.

Costin said drivers driving at speeds too fast for conditions caused most accidents.

The majority of personal injury crashes were on Interstate 70 near the 37 mile marker in Putnam County and State Road 159 south of Riley in Vigo County. The majority of slide-offs were on I-70 in Vigo, Clay, Putnam and Morgan counties with Putnam County compiling the most. Areas along northern Vigo County on SR 63 and Northern Sullivan County on U.S. 41 were also busy.

Doug Nally, Chief Deputy of the Putnam County Sheriff's Department, said the storm hasn't been as bad as others in the past have.

"I think it's been actually better," Nally said. "Everyone has got to the snow real quick."

Nally also noted that aside from property damage and slide-offs, there have been relatively few accidents on the roads. The worst accident he had heard of involved a school bus with children heading to Cloverdale. No one was hurt, but there was property damage.