Law Enforcement Officers Respond to Accidents on Icy Roadways - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Law Enforcement Officers Respond to Accidents on Icy Roadways

No travel is advised in much of the central part of the state.

Drivers have been slipping and sliding on roads in town--and on interstate.

The winter storm is forcing state patrol troopers to answer calls for help to get out of the ditch.

Sergeant Pat Hudson says between last night and this morning he has personally seen over 10 accidents or people in the ditch across the central part of the state.

During our three hour drive-a-long, troopers responded to three accidents with at least six more calls.

Hudson asks people not to travel but if you have to then be prepared.

 "If you find yourself in a situation where you have travel or just happen to come into a storm its all about being prepared making sure your vehicle yourself as the driver are properly prepared for the winter weather we get in North Dakota." says Sgt. Pat Hudson/ State Patrol.

As the weather deteriorates around the region, State Patrol has received even more calls of vehicles including semis stuck in icy snow-covered parts of the interstate.

Travelers are forced to slow down.

State patrolman Jeremiah Bohn says that if this continues into the evening there could be even more accidents.

 'It's not very comfortable driving. Most traffic is down to 20 miles an hour in most parts. Visibility is at zero at times the snow plows haven't hit all the areas." says Jeremiah Bohn/ State Patrol.

Bismarck police have reported around 55 accidents since three o'clock Friday afternoon.

Officers say the accidents started Friday when the ice froze at a bad time-- when people were getting off of work.

He says most have been property accidents, with a couple minor injury accidents.

In Mandan the last 24 hours, there's been about 15 total accidents with no serious injuries.