Joe Hornaday
While Decatur County residents may have stayed in this past weekend to avoid the harsh winter weather and watch the Super Bowl, the troopers from the Indiana State Police could not catch a break.
Troopers from the ISP’s Versailles District, which includes Decatur County, were kept busy over the weekend as a result of the recent winter storm. During the 24-hour period between 6 p.m. Friday, Feb. 5 and 6 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 6 troopers investigated 10 property damage crashes and one minor personal injury crash. In addition to the crashes investigated, troopers responded to 22 reported slide offs. More slide offs were investigated by the Greensburg Police Department and the Decatur County Sheriff’s Department. The majority of the incidents under the ISP’s jurisdiction occurred along I-74 with nine of the crashes and 18 slides offs investigated on that stretch of roadway. Most of the incidents were the result of motorists driving too fast for the slick and hazardous road conditions.
According to a release from ISP Sgt. Noel Houze, the National Weather Service is forecasting another winter weather event over the next couple of days predicting an additional 2-4 inches of snow, depending on the forecast. In addition to the snow, forecasters are also predicting windy conditions that can cause blowing and drifting of snow. The Indiana State Police are reminding motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during adverse weather conditions. If residents must travel, they are cautioned to reduce speed, increase the following distance between the vehicle and the vehicle ahead of them, leave early for the destination and always be sure to buckle up.
For the latest on current road and weather conditions, tune in to local television stations or visit the Indiana Department of Transportation Website at www.TrafficWise.in.gov, or call the 24 hour road and weather line at 800-261-ROAD (7623). Citizens are urged to avoid calling state, county, or local police dispatch centers to obtain road and weather conditions. Those phone lines should be kept open for emergency calls only.
