CLEVELAND — According to the Ohio State Highway Patrol, they have investigated approximately 225 crashes in Northeast Ohio since 2 p.m. on Friday. Of the 225 total crashes, 157 occurred on Friday and 68 on Saturday.
Jim Garrity from AAA East Central told 3News the have received approximately 1,400 calls since Midnight Saturday.
Per OSHP, the crashes all occurred after 2 p.m. Friday. Despite the slick conditions, most of the region hasn't seen more than a couple of inches of snow as of 11:30 p.m.
However, the patrol's official coverage area does not include Tuscarawas County, which is under a winter storm warning until 7 a.m. Saturday. The National Weather Service is predicting up to seven inches of snow for that county, as well as a potential four inches for nearly Carroll County.
Stay with 3News for updates as conditions continue to develop.
Ed Nowak – owner & proprietor, Sugar Ridge Towing and Recycling
Factors he believes may have contributed to messy driving:
"High speed and being slippery. So where there was some treating of the roads, they were getting right up to speed limit, which is 70 on I-90 out here, to a section of road that got snow covered, they were still doing 70, and that got a lot of people in trouble. And maybe some not so good tires on some of the vehicles, a lot of new drivers that aren’t experienced in driving in those conditions."
Reminders to drivers: “Slow down, move over for emergency vehicles. Be aware of your conditions ahead of time. Take a couple extra minutes to adjust everything in your car and your radio station. Put your phone in a safe place so you’re not tempted to grab it”
Brent Kovacs – PIO, ODOT District 12
“The plow was involved with a crash with a motorist on 480 westbound around Transportation Boulevard right by the Valley View Bridge. That happened around 4 a.m. this morning. Our driver was taken to the hospital and treated for non life-threatening injuries.”
He believes the plow was rear-ended
This is the 19th plow strike this season
“This season we are up to 19. Last year we had 26 in the entire year, so we’re definitely on pace to beat that number”
“Starting yesterday afternoon around 3, 4 o’clock, we had over 250 trucks out in Northeast Ohio as a whole. Over 70 trucks out in district 12, which includes Cuyahoga, Lake and Geauga counties.”