Ice, Snow cause numerous wrecks

Staff/wire report

The National Weather Service predicted about 4 inches of snow fell between 9 p.m. and midnight Monday in the Mahoning and Shenago valleys, which led to countless area fender benders.

The 7-11 Connector north and southbound lanes were treacherous for most of Monday evening, with numerous cars spinning off the road.

At one time, there were seven vehicles involved in a crash where the connector meets Interstate 680 by V&M Star. Another crash happened near the connector’s Gypsy Lane exit.

Meridian Road north and southbound also was a sheet of ice, and several cars either crashed or slid off the road early Monday evening.

Reports also had several accidents on state Route 82 in Trumbull County.

Road crews and tow-truck companies were kept busy throughout the evening.

Mahoning County was under a winter storm warning until 10 a.m. today. The snow fall followed freezing rain early Monday morning.

The Lisbon post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported that a commercial vehicle broke down on route 14 Monday evening, backing up traffic for hours as crews worked to reach the vehicle.

Police dispatchers in Girard, and Lordstown reported vehicles that had slid off the road and gotten stuck in ditches. Neither reported serious injuries. The state patrol’s Canfield post also reported numerous minor accidents.

Temperatures will reach a high of 20 degrees today, but temperatures are expected to rise toward the end of the week.