Icy conditions caused a bevy of accidents across Harford County Sunday morning, with at least one fatal accident reported by Maryland State Police and another fire company responding to an incident involving more than 30 vehicles.
Rich Gardiner, spokesman for the Harford County Volunteer Fire and EMS Association, urged all motorists to stay off the roads shortly after 9 a.m. Sunday, saying in a series of social media posts that the county’s emergency resources were stretched to capacity and that the county was “paralyzed” by the icy conditions. Several EMS and fire units responding to emergencies were themselves involved in minor accidents, Gardiner said, causing other units to be dispatched to back them up.
Maryland State Police said troopers were on the scene of a fatal accident at state Route 23 and High Point Road which appeared to be weather related. No additional details about the crash were immediately available.
The Darlington Volunteer Fire Company reported that 32 vehicles were either off the roadways or involved in a crash on Conowingo Road in the area of Sandy Hook Road.
In Bel Air, Route 1 at Lake Fanny Hill Road was impassable due to ice on a hill in that vicinity. Icy conditions also forced multiple vehicles off the roadway at the intersection of Harford and Bel Air roads, Gardiner said. The southbound lanes of Route 1 at Reckord Road were also shut down due to icy conditions; the State Highway Administration was operating in the area.
From the Maryland State Police:
(PIKESVILLE, MD) — Troopers are urging delayed travel today as they and county police continue to respond to dozens of crashes caused by icy roads, especially in the central and northern regions of the state.
Troopers were held out from night patrol and additional troopers have been called in to duty to assist with the response to crashes being caused by slick roads. Most of the crashes have occurred in Howard, Baltimore, Harford, and Cecil counties.
As of 10:30 a.m. today, troopers in Harford County are on the scene of a fatal crash that preliminary information indicates was weather-related. That is the only fatal crash troopers have responded to since the series of crashes began about 8:00 a.m. today.
State Highway Administration personnel are out in force, salting areas causing the most hazards, which are ramps, bridges and overpasses. Troopers are coordinating with SHA personnel to direct resources to areas of greatest need.
Troopers continue to urge motorists to delay travel this morning. Temperatures are warming and travel conditions will be much safer this afternoon.
For the latest information on crashes and road conditions, visit www.MD511.org, or call 511.
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