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Winter Weather Causes Slick Conditions, Accidents Throughout Metro Detroit

DETROIT (WWJ) -- As an unexpected winter storm sprang upon metro Detroit Friday night, so did slippery roads and poor driving conditions, resulting in a number of accidents.

The icy roads and slick spots are something that MDOT spokesperson Diane Cross said Michigan drivers should be ready to handle.

"Ice is just part of our winters," Cross said. "Drivers need to drive to the condition of the roadway, not necessarily what they assume it's going to be. You have to be extra careful, in control of your vehicle and focus on your driving."

Though there hasn't been much snow throughout the area thus far in December, Cross said drivers will have to be aware that conditions will be less than ideal this weekend.

"Drivers need to have both hands on the wheel, phones put away -- focus only on driving while they're driving," Cross said.

Robert Conrad, director for Wayne County Roads Division, says Friday's lake effect snow squall affected Wayne County more north of I-96 in the areas of Northville, Livonia and Redford.

Some have been injured, including a person involved in a rollover crash on M-14 in Washtenaw County.

"We have about 44 drivers out right now checking to roads, salting as necessary," Conrad said. "Things have kind of improved a little bit, but there are still some slick conditions out there, so people do need to take it easy."

Conrad said crews will be out for as long as conditions demand.

The cause for some of the spinouts on the freeways is due to black ice, said Cross, which forms primarily on bridges, ramps and overpasses.

"Drivers are generally going at their normal speed, not realizing that maybe they're going to hit some black ice," Cross said.

Icy roads are to blame for an 80-car pileup that occurred outside of Grand Rapids on US-131. Incidents have been reported on I-75 in Wayne and Oakland Counties.

Know before you go: Keep it tuned to WWJ Newsradio 950 for the latest forecast during traffic and weather, every 10 minutes on the 8s. See the live, local radar now at this link.

Sign up for severe weather text alerts: Text STORM to 95001
For daily weather forecast text alerts: Text FORECAST to 95001

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