Wrecks are beginning to pick up again in Upshur County as temperatures plunge into the lower 20s. Two accidents — one on the Hall Road and another on Route 33 toward Elkins — were reported within minutes of one another at about 7:15 p.m. Tuesday.
Cold temperatures and snow showers will make travel in Upshur County treacherous again tonight, the Upshur County Office of Emergency Management warns.
“Black ice is expected to increase in Upshur County, allowing snow to stick to the roadways,” the OEM broadcast in an alert. “Please use extreme caution.”
Multiple accidents occurred Tuesday morning all around the county as icy roads sent drivers into ditches.
The Buckhannon Fire Department responded to five wrecks – two on Route 33 near the Brushy Fork intersection and Annie Oakley Road, and ones on Vicksburg Road, Ivy Road and Teter Road – but firefighter John Brugnoli estimated about 15 wrecks occurred in the Buckhannon area Tuesday.
Fortunately, Brugnoli said he didn’t think anyone was injured.
“We were paged out on just five,” Brugnoli said Tuesday evening, “but there were closer to 15 wrecks in the Buckhannon area.”
That area encompasses the city and the fire department’s first due area, which includes the Brushy Fork area, Tallmansville and Route 33.
“It was mostly vehicles in a ditch or minor fender benders,” he said. “I don’t know of any injuries.”
The National Weather Service issued a special weather statement for much of West Virginia, including Upshur County, Tuesday evening.
“Temperatures are cold enough that water on untreated roadways will freeze,” according to the NWS. “This will create patches of black ice. In addition, snow showers will also stick to untreated roadways. Motorists should use extreme caution and be prepared for ice on
roads.
“Please use extreme caution, especially on bridges, overpasses and around curves. Allow plenty of stopping distance and avoid braking suddenly.”
The cold is expected to linger through Wednesday night, with the snow tapering off during the day Wednesday. The low Tuesday is 20 degrees, and Wednesday doesn’t fare much better with a high of just 29.
The low Wednesday night is 19, with temperatures predicted to break above freezing on Thursday and rising into the mid-to-upper 50s over the weekend.
