Hundreds of crashes on Gwinnett County roadways
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Gwinnett County was hit hard by hundreds of accidents and lots of road closures due to icy road conditions on Wednesday.
Spinouts, like the one which involved a pickup truck in front of a FOX 5 News camera on Sever and North Brown roads in Gwinnett County were common.
The location was one of many trouble spots where hilly, curved, icy roads made driving treacherous.
“It’s getting dark so the roads are getting slick again getting icy… Yes be careful be safe,” said motorist Shannon Waldrop.
She was driving on an icy stretch of Camp Perrin Road at Collins Hill Road. It was among multiple road closures throughout Gwinnett County.
At the Sugarloaf Parkway exit ramp at Highway 316 Julio Delacruz and another motorist were involved in an accident.
“Somebody wrecked in front of me, so I hit the curb, the tire blew out,” said Delacruz.
Gwinnett County Police said since midnight, officers worked 979 weather related calls which included 509 traffic accidents.
All around the county there were remnants of recent mishaps like a knocked over light pole on North Brown Road.
And with each incident police were themselves in harm's way.
Officer Ben Muckley, who responded to the accident at Sugarloaf Parkway told FOX 5 News his squad car was hit not once but twice.
“Two vehicles hit me from behind, two separate incidents while I was working an accident… Yeah a little bit sore but I'll make it,” said Officer Muckley.
Many businesses in the Lawrenceville area like Starbucks, Hooters, Moe’s, and others on Highway 120 closed due to icy conditions but business was brisk at the Kroger on Riverside Parkway.
“A little bit of a run. they still have a lot of produce in there but they're getting low on like the milk products but they got plenty of meat,” said Michele Ludky, a shopper who had just left the store.
She said she was stocking up so she wouldn't have to make another run to the store until problem icy roads became safe again.