If you were driving anywhere within New Jersey on Sunday, then you were able to see the terrible conditions the roads were in due to a freezing rain storm that lasted throughout most of the day.
Crash upon crash was seen on the parkway, the turnpike, and on interstate highways throughout the state, and the crashes have claimed the lives of at least 5 victims throughout the northeast.
One vehicular collision involved almost up to 50 vehicles, and resulted in the death of one person, happened on Interstate 76, while 2 lives were taken nearby on Interstate 476. Meanwhile a man was killed outside of Philadelphia after his car turned upside down after he hit a patch of ice, and a woman in Connecticut, an 88 year old, struck a utility pole.
Drivers were literally sliding throughout streets without the ability to stop or control their vehicles, and people were videotaping the accident on their cellular devices, one man was even captured having a heart attack after a crash in New Jersey.
Eugene Blaum, Pennsylvania Department of Transportation spokesman, states, “This is the worst type of winter precipitation to combat, because it can freeze instantly and it doesn’t need to be the whole pavement for vehicles crossing it to have problems.”
All throughout the state of New Jersey speed limits were lowered, especially on the Garden State Parkway where the speed limit dropped from 65 to 35 throughout.
Along with reduced travel acceleration came the inability for many to travel at all because several bridges were closed due to the freezing weather.
The Port Authority of New Jersey and New York closed down the Goethals and Bayonne bridges, and the Outerbridge Crossing. Meanwhile a flood warning was issued throughout different parts of the state, and a section of Route 22 in New Jersey turned into what look liked a mini-river.
Although the drop in temperature throughout the day got rid of most of the ice, the National Weather Service is warning several states of potential temperature drops Sunday night that could result in the roads becoming icy all over again. The best thing to do is to reduce your driving and only leave your homes if necessary.
Photo: AMY NEWMAN / NorthJersey.com
