Wintry weather causes slick roads

YOUNGSTOWN — A early evening light snowfall coupled with freezing rains literally turned some city streets into sheets of ice Tuesday.

Street crews were out early across the Mahoning Valley, but not before police reported numerous minor accidents caused by the slippery roads.

“It’s like an ice rink out here,” one police officer was overheard radioing to his dispatcher.

Boardman Township police reported a lot of minor accidents, and others reported a number of crashes as well, but none serious.

Most departments reported main streets were in good shape by about 10 p.m., but some secondary streets and roads were still snow-covered and slippery.

The Ohio Department of Transportation office in Canfield reported it had 16 crews out on the road. No roads were closed, but motorists were being advised to slow down and use caution.

Conditions weren’t expected to improve much overnight as weather forecasts predicted more freezing rain across the region.

It appeared that the Mahoning Valley had most of the icy road conditions. Police departments in Mercer County reported some early icing of roads, but those in Lawrence County reported roads were in good shape.