Wintry weather leads to wrecks across OKC
Icy roadways were to blame for at least one death and numerous wrecks in central Oklahoma as freezing drizzle fell throughout the day Wednesday. Travel along busy highways became congested after a number of wrecks were reported on the Lake Hefner Parkway, Interstate 44 in southwest Oklahoma City and Interstate 240 near Santa Fe Avenue. City spokeswoman Kristy Yager said city crews driving salt trucks were busy throughout the day treating slick spots. By mid-day, bridges and overpasses remained icy, while city streets were wet for the most part with some icy patches. Waves of freezing drizzle continued to fall through the afternoon hours, leading to slick roads overnight. So numerous were wrecks in Oklahoma City that police said they would not be responding to non-injury collisions, Master Sgt. Gary Knight said. Oklahoma City firefighters responded to 87 injury wrecks between 2 a.m. and about 8 p.m., said Capt. David Macy. Firefighters typically respond to about 210 emergency calls within a 24-hour period. From midnight to about 8:15 p.m., firefighters had responded to 297 calls, Macy said. The Oklahoma Highway
Patrol reported 125 non-injury accidents and 10 injury wrecks during a six-hour period Wednesday morning in central Oklahoma. Emergency Medical Services Authority officials reported 18 people injured in traffic accidents in Oklahoma City were taken to area hospitals for treatment. Crews also took 21 people injured in slips and falls to area hospitals. Icy roads contributed to the Wednesday morning death of a 27-year-old Oklahoma City man in Blaine County, the patrol reported. Just before 3 a.m., Leqwan Dontae Heath was driving a tractor-trailer on a Blaine County road, about 1 mile north and 2 miles west of Geary. Heath last control of the truck on the ice-covered roadway, and the rig jackknifed and struck a utility pole in a ditch, the patrol reported. Heath was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident knocked out electric power to residents in the area Wednesday morning but was later restored, Blaine County Undersheriff David Robertson said. Central Oklahoma is expected to thaw out Thursday, with a high near 38 degrees, according to the National Weather Service. Moore, Norman and Midwest City-Del City school districts announced Wednesday evening that classes would be canceled for Thursday. Edmond Public Schools officials said they wouldn't decide whether to cancel classes until Thursday morning. Oklahoma City Public Schools had not decided as of Wednesday evening. More winter weather is possible for central Oklahoma on Saturday night and Sunday as temperatures drop below freezing. There is a 60 percent chance of freezing rain and sleet late Saturday and a chance of snow on Sunday in Oklahoma City, the weather service reported.