PBPD responded to more than 20 slide offs and accidents overnight

Vehicles were moving slowly at Westwood and Cherry as of 6:30 a.m. Wednesday.

DAR/Donna Farley

Poplar Bluff snow plows and graders have been on the roads since about 8:30 p.m. last night, but caution is still urged as drivers begin their morning commutes.

Police responded to seven accident reports and 14 slide offs/stranded vehicles after the snowfall started, said Deputy Chief Keith Hefner. No injuries were reported, but tow trucks were unable to remove some vehicles from areas where they had slid off.

“At this point, it’s melting from the top and the bottom at the same time. Most of all, it’s slushy, but there are still some slick spots. It’s pretty deep in places where it’s not draining well,” Hefner said, who explained the accidents and slide offs came from across the city.

At least one vehicle hit a power pole in the area of Alice, Foley and Abington, requiring the intersection to be closed for a time.

Multiple power outages were also reported overnight and work continues across the region to make repairs.

Light rain and snow are expected to continue through the morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow was heavy enough at times that it slowed down street department vehicles, said Superintendent Jerry Lawson.

“We had a good portion of it cleared and then more came in, so we lost a little ground,” Lawson said. “You would see a lot more cleared streets if it hadn’t snowed so much more after we did part of it.”

Lawson said the street department did not treat the streets before the event because of rainfall. He does expect to put salt out later today, especially at intersections and downhill areas to help with any refreezing that may occur.

Slush on the roads is pretty deep, especially in areas without drainage, Hefner said.

Both said low-profile vehicles may struggle because of the amount of snow and slush on uncleared roadways.

This event is different from the one before Christmas, Lawson said, because of the ground temperature. The ground was warm enough that the snow didn’t freeze to the pavement, making it easier and faster to remove.

“We were fortunate with temperatures hovering right around freezing all night,” Hefner said. “It’s nowhere comparable to the 20 and 30 below windchills we had a few weeks back.”