Semis and Slick Roads Snarl Traffic

A small amount of frozen precipitation spawns rashes of crashes in the area.  Law enforcement agencies responded to numerous accidents on both sides of the river.

A semi-tire fire brought Hull and Kinderhook fire crews to I-72 just east of Hannibal Friday morning. KHQA reports the semi was traveling west near the Hull exit when one of its tires began burning. Authorities believe the fire may have resulted from defective brakes. Water used to fight the fire made slick roads in the area even slicker. One tow truck driver at the scene said several wrecker units were involved in off loading the cargo—steel pipes—until alternate transportation arrangements arrived.

Meanwhile, a semi jack-knifes on US 61 near Taylor around 10 a.m. Friday. WGEM reports the southbound lanes of US 61 were closed for at time after the semi collided with a car. Specific crash and injury information were not released.

A two-vehicle crash on US 24 near West Quincy Friday morning happened after a car driven by 33 year old Amanda Altgilbers of Quincy pulled into the path of a car driven by 59 year old Glenda Ahern of Durham. Altgilbers and a passenger in the Ahern car went to Blessing hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

A one vehicle rollover crash 6 miles south of LaGrange sends two Canton residents to the hospital Friday morning. Missouri troopers say a car driven by 28 year old Matthew Conkright went out of control on an ice covered stretch of Highway 61 and overturned. Conkright and an infant passenger suffered minor injuries and were transported to Blessing Hospital.

A couple of one-vehicle rollovers occurred on Highway 6:  Troopers say 19 year old Johnathan Cross of Durham lost control of his pickup on the ice covered roadway, 1 mile east of Durham. He suffered minor injuries and was taken to Blessing Hospital in Quincy.

Nineteen year old Michaela Becherer of Ewing lost control of her pickup on Highway 6 near Taylor Friday afternoon. Her truck crashed into an embankment and overturned. Becherer reported minor injuries and was transported to Blessing Hospital.

In Monroe County, troopers report an SUV driven by 32 year old Jeremy Jones of Peoria, Illinois crashed on US 24 Friday afternoon. Jones was traveling westbound when his vehicle ran off the road, spinning backward into a creek. Jones suffered minor injuries and went to Hannibal Regional Hospital.

Travel is also hazardous for those on foot.  Many sidewalks and driveways treated with ice melter refroze overnight, making for hazardous conditions when walking.  Temps are expected to drop throughout the day on Saturday, falling to near 0  tonight.  This will result in flash freezing of treated surfaces, making driving--and walking-- even more challenging.