Schools close, numerous auto accidents reported

Schools in Auglaize and Mercer counties were closed on Tuesday due to the same icy road conditions that resulted in multiple slide-off accidents on Monday evening.

The National Weather Service predicted between 2 and 4 inches of snowfall for the Grand Lake area when officials issued a winter weather advisory on Monday. Local weatherman Dennis Howick told the newspaper he measured 3.8 inches of snow from the storm.

The snow had been preceded by rain, leaving roads slippery and treacherous for drivers. Mercer County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Gery Thobe said on Tuesday his office had received 18 calls of slide-offs and eight other crashes on Monday night.

Auglaize County Sheriff's Chief Deputy Mike Peterson reported deputies had handled 12 slide-offs on Monday night, largely in a two and a half hour window. He said none was serious in nature.

Road crews worked for hours clearing and salting roads on Monday night and again early Tuesday morning.

Mercer County Engineer James Wiechart said Tuesday afternoon that drivers had worked to clear county roads for four or five hours Monday night, and had been called again about 4 a.m. Tuesday. Drivers had been using salt as well as some deicing chemicals. He noted the sunny weather also had helped to clear the roads.

Andrew Baumer, Auglaize County's assistant engineer, said it took between two and a half and three hours to clear the 350 miles of county roads. While crews did their best to get salt down and help ease slippery driving conditions, he cautioned drivers that it takes time for plows and road salt to be effective.

"If you're out driving, you've got to make sure you slow down and take your time and give the trucks time to plow and the salt time to work to melt the snow and ice off," he said.