Sloppy, slushy weather leads to accidents, power outages across region

BOSTON - Sloppy, slushy weather led to accidents and power outages around the region Saturday morning.

Meanwhile, New Hampshire State Police said they had already responded to 15 crashes and vehicles off the road before 8 a.m. and warned drivers to go slow.

In Malden, Police said several utility poles were down in the Broadway/Route 99 area after a motor vehicle accident.

Billerica also reported power outages after a vehicle hit a utility pole.

Meanwhile, plow trucks struggled to clear the roads. In the early part of Saturday morning, Mass DOT reported having 1,850 pieces of equipment on the roads. 

Plow driver Peter Weger in North Andover said the snow took all morning to clear. "It's just really wet and heavy," he said. "It looks a lot better now, but I definitely don't want to do anymore."

Overnight Saturday, soon after the snow began to fall, authorities were already reporting accidents, including a tractor-trailer, which jackknifed on Route 495 south near Route 2.  

On the coast, choppy and high water was seen along the Cape and the island, causing the Chappy Ferry, which serves Martha's Vineyard to shut down service.

With more snow expected in the afternoon, WBZ-TV meteorologist Lexi O'Connor said, "While only minor additional accumulation is expected through the afternoon, the snow will reduce visibility at times and could cause some slick spots on any untreated surfaces, especially tonight as temperatures fall back into the 20s."

In its noon update, MassDOT had 1,412 pieces of equipment on the roads and all restrictions on the Mass Pike had been lifted.

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