Freezing fog leads to several early morning crashes

KENNEWICK, Wash.-- Troopers with the Washington State Patrol responded to at least seven weather-related crashes in and around the Tri-Cities Thursday morning.

One person was transported to the Kadlec Medical Center in Richland after a rollover crash on I-82 between Coffin Rd. and Locust Grove Road at about 5:30 a.m. Thursday. The vehicle landed on its top in the median, and created some slowdowns in both directions of the Interstate. The driver, Breanna Dates, 26, Kennewick, was wearing a seatbelt and had non-life-threatening injuries. She was ticketed for traveling too fast for conditions. 

As many as three vehicles were involved in a crash on eastbound I-182 in Pasco at about 6:30 a.m. Thursday, just past the 4th St. exit. It took nearly two hours to clear the scene of that crash, though there were no injuries reported.

While thick fog hampered visibility, sub-freezing temperatures caused that fog to freeze on the roadways, creating black ice in some areas, especially on overpasses.

"Remember on overpasses, cold air goes above and below the concrete," said Trooper Chris Thorson in a video on twitter Thursday morning. "So, they're the first to freeze. Any time it's below freezing, and any time there's precipitation or snow, these freeze the fastest."

The best way to prevent a crash in icy conditions is to slow down, and keep plenty of space between your vehicle and those around you. Thorson also encourages drivers to take the time to clear all ice or snow from all the windows on your vehicle before hitting the road, so you can clearly see through each window.

#thursdaymorning Winter driving tip: Remember that concrete overpasses are the first to freeze in inclement weather. pic.twitter.com/lTwKI31kum

— Trooper C. Thorson (@wspd3pio) December 3, 2020