Multiple Crashes Cause Heavy Congestion On Wintry OKC Highways

Several accidents have made for slow going on thoroughfares all around the Oklahoma City metro on Monday.

Traffic was shut down on the northbound side of Interstate 35, near E. Waterloo Rd. in Edmond, due to multiple car crashes.

All lanes of northbound I-35 at mile marker 148 were shut down around 1:30 p.m. The interstate was re-opened around 3:30 p.m. Officials have not said if anyone was injured in any of those accidents.

Authorities have confirmed that one person was killed in a crash on westbound I-44 at mile marker 101, near Newcastle.

Just before 5 p.m. emergency responders were called out to an injury crash on I-40 near S. Harrah Rd. on the far east side of the metro. Scanner traffic indicates that OHP troopers may be preparing to shut down the highway while crews work the scene.

So far, Oklahoma City Police have responded to 15 injury accidents and 48 non-injury accidents. As of 1 p.m. police told News 9 that they would no longer be responding to non-injury crashes.

OKC road crews are working around the clock to improve road conditions along the snow routes.

Crews in 30 trucks are plowing and salting the city snow routes, with each truck covering about 200 miles in one 12-hour shift. City street crews do not plow or salt neighborhood roads or any street that is not a snow route.

Salt is in good supply with more than 7,500 tons in storage. Crew shift changes are at noon and midnight, but efforts will continue non-stop until road and weather conditions improve.

The City urges drivers to take extra precaution, especially during tonight's evening drive and tomorrow morning's commute. Temperatures on Tuesday are expected to reach about 45 degrees, greatly improving street conditions until the next round of wintry mix arrives. Early National Weather Service forecasts this afternoon call for more winter precipitation Friday.

Keep checking with News 9 and News9.com for more information.