CLARK COUNTY, Ky. (WKYT) — As winter weather returned to the Bluegrass State, drivers across Kentucky faced icy roads and slick conditions following the first snowfall of the season.
Snow began falling Sunday evening, and by Monday night into Tuesday morning, freezing temperatures turned roads into sheets of ice, leading to numerous crashes.
In Lexington, police responded to more than 70 crashes Monday evening related to the snowfall. On Tuesday morning, officers were called to six separate wrecks on I-64 westbound, all caused by icy conditions.
While some drivers struggled, others reported smoother travel. “I started out about five this morning, so the roads have been decent,” said Michael Aakhus, an early commuter.
According to the WKYT First Alert Weather Team, most areas saw around an inch of snow, with heavier bursts in isolated spots. “We’ve seen, in the middle of the road, where the lines have a little bit of ice, but other than that it’s been fine,” said Melissa Arthur, a driver from Virginia.
Road Crews Respond to Changing Conditions
Transportation officials warned that black ice remains a major threat, especially on bridges and overpasses. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) said crews worked through Monday evening treating key routes across the region.
Even so, officials cautioned that black ice can still form on treated roads as temperatures drop.
Truck driver Casaundra Allen said she’s familiar with the dangers of icy bridges but worries other motorists aren’t. “Maybe they treated the road before, maybe it was too cold, I don’t know, but they had the road closed off and were spraying something on the bridges,” Allen said after witnessing a crash on I-64 Tuesday morning.
Some residents questioned whether road crews had done enough. One viewer told WKYT they encountered icy bridges along I-75 Monday night and Tuesday morning, despite reports of road treatments.
WKYT reached out to KYTC and the Clark County Road Department to ask about their snow and ice preparations but had not received a response before publication.
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