UPDATE: Major accidents and road closures, but improving in some areas

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WSBT viewer Bonnie Meisner sent this photo of an accident that occured on US-31 South on Friday morning when freezing rain made streets throughout the region extremely icy. Meisner said the truck driv

WSBT viewer Bonnie Meisner sent this photo of an accident that occured on US-31 South on Friday morning when freezing rain made streets throughout the region extremely icy. Meisner said the truck driver was alright.

By WSBT News1

Story Created: Dec 26, 2008 at 8:14 AM EST

Story Updated: Dec 26, 2008 at 9:36 PM EST

Ice that made travel on area roads difficult at best Friday morning was beginning to melt in some places as of noon, improving a bad situation but still prompting warnings by police that residents should remain at home.

The state of emergency declared in Elkhart, LaPorte, and St. Joseph counties has been lifted.

In Berrien County, a dispatcher for the county Sheriff’s Department said road problems had begun to ease up. Accidents were numerous throughout the county, she said, but she added she was unaware of any that involved injuries.

The worst crash occurred on Interstate 94 and involved 10 cars and a semi-truck, she said. The accident occurred just before 10 a.m. at mile marker 22, in the divided highway’s westbound lanes.

The accident shut down that portion of the highway but it has since reopened, the dispatcher said. Parts of Red Arrow Highway and the St. Joseph Valley Parkway were also closed for short periods, she said.

A police dispatcher told WSBT News police wanted to close the St. Joseph Valley Parkway, also called the Bypass, but there were not enough police working to block all the entrances and work all the accidents.

As of 12:25 p.m. it was reported that traffic on the bypass was not moving near the South Bend Airport.

In Cass County, state highways remained slick as of noon, largely because salt trucks were sliding and unable to treat the surfaces. A dispatcher for the county Sheriff’s Department said a number of accidents had been reported but she was unaware of any involving injuries.

"Tell people to stay home,’’ she said.

In St. Joseph County police dispatchers said even well-traveled roads were slick and dangerous.

The Toll Road, St. Joseph Valley Parkway, Capital Avenue/U.S. 331, U.S. 31 and U.S. 20 were among the roads to avoid.

Officials say the Toll Road is greatly improved.

State police closed portions of the Indiana Toll Road in the morning after more than 50 accidents were reported. State Trooper William Jones called the 157-mile highway "an entire sheet of ice" and urged drivers to stay off the highway even after it reopened.

County police said Cleveland Avenue was closed near Ironwood Drive about 8 a.m. because a semi that couldn’t get up the hill west of Ironwood Drive was sideways in the street.

Police on the midnight shift were still working late as both shifts tried to keep up with accidents.

Electricity was restored to South Bend's north side after a three-hour power outage.

About 1,800 homes and businesses lost power around 6:30 a.m., said a spokesman for Indiana Michigan Power. The electricity went out because of a downed power line.

Power was restored just after 9:30 a.m.

TRANSPO service has been canceled for the day in South Bend and Mishawaka.

Several buses slid off roads and couldn't get out, say officials. A service van was also in an accident.

TRANSPO officials say this is the first time they remember pulling all buses off the road in more than 10 years.

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