By Staci DaSilva
sdasilva@kcautv.com
"We've seen upward of over a dozen vehicles in the ditch, a number of accidents and mostly with injuries unfortunately today," said IA State Trooper John Farley.
A semi, one of those dozen or so vehicles in ditches, landed near the Port Neal exit off I-29 on Thursday.
Another four car accident happened on the Interstate near Singing Hills. One crash after another, car after car in ditches, most likely, because of speeding.
Trooper Farley said, "As you can see, with these icy conditions, we have limited traffic at this time of day, we're still down to less than 50 miles an hour for safe interstate speeds."
Trooper John Farley says officers like himself are at a risk when performing routine traffic stops or controlling the site of an accident in winter conditions.
But you can prevent those dangers by driving carefully.
"They're not looking ahead. They're now allowing for that extra stopping distance or for the chance that there is going to be that emergency vehicle. They come up on them too fast and they're in a crowd of other vehicles and just not able to change lanes effectively," said Trooper Farley.
Black ice was a severe problem on most roads Thursday.
So, if you do hit a patch of black ice, remember to take your foot off the gas and keep your vehicle going straight. Don't try to turn into your skid.
Two of South Dakota Patrol cars were hit in 2 different accidents Thursday. One near Sioux Falls and the other near the Vermillion exit along Interstate 29.
No one was injured in either crash.
