Road crews warn drivers about icy roads as temps drop

BOSTON - As temperatures dropped, Thursday's stormy weather created more work for sand and salt trucks in Massachusetts than for plows. Icy road conditions had busy tow truck operators shouting in frustration.

"Slow down and let us do our jobs," said Terry Spaeth.

Police responded to calls for cars sliding off roads. An oil truck rolled over on Eli Whitney Street in Westborough. Two school buses were involved in a crash on Route 3 in Tyngsboro, and Massachusetts State Police posted a picture of an SUV that crashed on the side of the Mass Pike.

"The snow's one thing, but the ice, the ice is dangerous," said Bill Frisone, who went to Dracut Public Works to fill buckets with sand and salt for his steep driveway. "The difference in the climate, it's crazy, you know. We get the snow, we get the ice, then it melts during the day, freezes at night, and it's just you're after it constantly," he said.

MassDOT had more than 900 pieces of equipment out treating roads Thursday.  

By Thursday night, the effects of the icy roads and runways were still being felt across the region as cars continued to slide off roads and airports saw cancelations.

Anthony Ruiz's car battery died on his way from Maine to Florida. Fortunately, a good Samaritan gave him a jump.

"I didn't think there were that many good people in the world, and it confirms that there are still good people out there," Ruiz said.

Meanwhile, road crews were back at work Thursday night trying to get salt and sand on the roads as temperatures dropped. MassDOT had more than 800 pieces of equipment continuing to treat roads Thursday night.

And at Logan Airport, passengers saw their flights delayed or canceled. Brett and Francine Shirley, of Framingham, were waiting for their daughters' delayed flight.

"It's very Icy," said Brett Shirley. "I got my driveway about halfway cleared up, but we had to leave, so I hope it doesn't turn into a chunk of ice by the time I get home." 

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