Police are warning drivers to stay off Arkansas roads on Thursday as a winter storms create “deteriorating” road conditions.
Snow and sleet fell across the Jonesboro, Arkansas area on Thursday, January 6th, creating unfavorable driving conditions as early as 6 a.m. Before 11 a.m., the Arkansas Department of Transportation reported many northeast Arkansas roads were covered with snow and at least two crashes had already occurred in Randolph and Clay Counties.
By 11 a.m. the Paragould Police Department reported “multiple crashes and cars in ditches” on State Highway 135 North between the city limits and the Unity Road intersection due to “treacherous” road conditions, along with standstill traffic. That highway has since been cleared and treated, reported KAIT 8 News.
A crash involving two semi trucks was also reported on S. Highway 67 near Pocahontas. The two semi trucks collided, forcing the shutdown of Highway 67 near Engleberg Road. A semi truck was also reported to have run off State Highway 135 about 2.5 miles east of Corning, and multiple wrecks brought Interstate 55 near the Steele exit to a standstill.
Officials are asking drivers to stay off the roads if possible.