Tuesday morning snow wreaks havoc on local roadways

A tanker overturned on Interstate 70 near the 54-mile marker in Morgan County Tuesday morning. It was one of more than 30 incidents to which Indiana State Troopers in the Putnamville district responded during the snow.

Courtesy of Indiana State Police

State and local police agencies responded to multiple slide-offs and other crashes due to the snow that moved in Tuesday morning.

From 6 a.m.-1 p.m., Indiana State Police troopers from the Putnamville Post responded to 14 slide-offs, 11 property damage crashes and eight personal injury crashes.

Additionally, local agencies in Putnam County responded to dozens of calls on state, county and city roads. Putnam County Dispatch reported multiple instances of 20 calls coming in at once.

The majority of the crashes investigated by ISP were along Interstate 70 between the 11-mile marker in Vigo County to the 53-mile marker in Morgan County, with the concentrated spots near the 11-, 30-, and 45-mile markers. Affected counties were Vigo, Clay, Putnam and Morgan.

The majority of the crashes were passenger cars and trucks colliding with other vehicles or traveling off the roadway into wooded areas or cable barriers. There were a number of jackknifed semis that snarled traffic as well.

The most major incident occurred in Morgan County, where a semi tanker overturned. According to the placard on the rear of the trailer, the load was liquid hazardous waste.

ISP reported a very minor spill, with a hazmat team on site cleaning it up afterward.

The driver suffered only minor lacerations.

All of the injuries reported were minor in nature and ranged from small lacerations to complaints of pain. Very few drivers were transported to a hospital.

At the local level, two crashes resulted in minor injuries. One was on State Road 42 south of Cloverdale and the other was on Rangeline Road east of Greencastle.

The rest of the local incidents were minor fender benders and slide-offs.

Some drivers were cited for speed too fast for conditions. Seatbelts were in use and undoubtedly prevented more serious injuries, according to a statement from ISP

Interstate 70 had frequent short stoppages with traffic stop and go for approximately three hours. U.S. 40 westbound at U.S. 231 was stopped for approximately 40 minutes for tractor-trailers stalled out on the icy hill.

U.S. 40 in the Reelsville area was a trouble spot for approximately two hours with slide-offs and minor crashes.