St. JOSEPH COUNTY — A number of roads across the area made for a dangerous morning commute Friday. Police responded to dozens of accidents in slide-offs after freezing rain blanketed the area.

Drivers say traveling was a nightmare. Squealing tires and damaged cars — it's couldn't be escaped Friday morning.

"Like a roller coaster," said one driver.

Freezing rain blanketed the area, leaving roads like a sheet of ice. Police shutdown US-20 between Pine Road and Quince Road after a dozen cars were involved in minor crashes and slide-offs.

"I started sliding coming up the hill, so I slowed down. And when I got to the top of the hill I just kept sliding," said one driver.

"I was on my way to work and I saw there was an accident down the street," said another. "So I tried to turn around and go back home. But as you see, I didn't make it."

The Bypass was also a scary scene. Dozens of cars lost control, sliding into ditches and the median.

Salt trucks in Mishawaka loaded up and hit the road at 6 a.m. to de-ice the streets.

"We've got six trucks in right now, three more going out," said Mishawaka's street commissioner Mike Watson. "So that will be a total of nine. One in each area to hit all the hot spots, curbs, hills."

Watson admits situations like these are difficult to take care of.

"Because it coats every road, makes every road dangerous," said Watson.

It's the reason police and drivers are offering a big piece of advice.

"Right now, stay at home where it's warm. It's cold," said a driver.

St. Joseph County Police thought about shutting the bypass down, but they didn't have enough men. Officers were too busy dealing with accidents and slide-offs.