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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 19, 2005 Freezing rain leads to crashes Accidents slow traffic from the California line on I-5 to areas north of Jackson County By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune A freezing rainstorm struck Jackson County Sunday morning, leading to a dozen accidents on Interstate 5 from the state line to Grants Pass. "It was pretty crazy," said Dan Hunt, a firefighter at District 5 in Rogue River. No serious injuries were reported, and the Oregon State Police couldn’t estimate how many vehicles were involved in all the accidents. One semi-truck jackknifed at the Gold Hill exit, temporarily shutting down the northbound lanes. Along a 40-mile stretch from northern Douglas County to Cottage Grove, about 25-30 accidents shut down Interstate 5 for four hours Sunday morning. Advertisement "We had real icy conditions," said Pam Frank, spokesperson for the Oregon Department of Transportation. Most of the accidents occurred in the northbound lanes, and this gave ODOT crews a chance to put down de-icers in the southbound lanes, she said. State police said one person died in a two-vehicle crash on state Highway 138 west about four miles southeast of Elkton, and another died in a single-car crash on state Highway 28, about 28 miles east of Reedsport. On Sunday afternoon, ODOT required chains or traction tires on vehicles crossing the Siskiyou Summit, where snow was falling. Hunt said many of the six accidents his fire district responded to between 5:30 and 7:30 a.m. took place from Rogue River to Gold Hill. Many of the accidents involved a vehicle sliding off the road and hitting the guardrail, he said. Hunt said one accident near Valley of the Rogue State Park started when one vehicle sideswiped another on a bridge, forcing the drivers to stop. "One of the guys jumped out of his vehicle and then there was a five- or six-car pileup," he said. Roger Gerig, National Weather Service specialist in Medford, said the phenomenon of freezing rain occurs when the ground is frozen and the rain hits, causing the water to freeze. "It’s interesting," he said. "We don’t have this every winter." While this area saw freezing rain, Northern California got snow, he said. By Sunday afternoon, temperatures in Medford had warmed to 56, and Gerig expects rain to continue through today. John Vial, ODOT district manager, said crews had been out spraying de-icers in Jackson County early Sunday morning, but he said no technology is available for the kind of storm that rolled through the valley. "De-icer is not effective in freezing rain," he said. "It dilutes as soon as it hits and doesn’t work." When the roadway becomes icy, motorists need to show extra care in driving, Vial said Vial indicated weather forecasters had predicted the storm, but there was little ODOT could do to make the roads safer. "It’s the worst weather condition you can fight," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail Freezing rain leads to crashes ">[email protected] . Some winter safety tips for motorists For motorists traveling during the winter, the Oregon Department of Transportation has the following suggestions: Have a full fuel tank and a good highway map. Carry tire chains or other traction devices. Have an ice scraper, battery booster cables, road flares, a properly inflated spare tire, a vehicle jack, lug wrench and a basic tool kit. Bring a small shovel and bag of kitty litter or sand for traction in case you get stuck; also have a plastic tarp to help keep you dry when installing tire chains. Carry a flashlight with extra batteries and bulbs, an extra pair of winter gloves and a warm hat, a change of clothes and a warm blanket, snack foods, matches in a waterproof container, extra quarters for phone calls, a pocket knife and a first aid kit. Have a large thermos bottle filled with water or a hot drink. Carry a cell phone with fully charged batteries. If you travel with an infant or baby, pack extra food, warm clothes and blankets, some toys and games, and extra diapers. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Distance Education Computer Security Cheap Website Hosting Discount Hotel Reservations dvd-r Online Pharmacy Myspace Home Equity Loans Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews High End Computers Online Casino News Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Student Loans Advertisement s