Icy Roads Reported in Several Parts of Washington County

More ice will probably form by morning, please allow time to travel in the morning.

Salem-News.com

(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Washington County Sheriff's deputies say they are responding to several reported crashes due to icy road conditions.

At the time of this report, there are no serious injuries involved in any of the crashes in Washington County, but a fatal crash currently has Lafayette Highway closed near McMinnville. That head-on crash is blamed on an icy bridge.

The Washington County Sheriff's Office is reminding people to watch for black ice that is forming on the wet roads.

The areas where black ice has been reported include West Union Road and Springville Road in Rock Creek in the Bethany area.

Also watch for black ice on Highway 219 south of Hillsboro, Highway 47 North of Highway 26, and River Road West of Aloha.

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More ice will probably form as dawn approaches, police say, so please allow time to travel in the morning. Black ice can be impossible to see and drivers have little to no control once they begin to slide. The best strategy is to drive slowly and steer and brake very gently, no sudden movements.

Don't forget that melting ice is still slippery. Experts say driving slowly allows your tires to push water through their grooves for better traction.

Remember that while four-wheel-drive cars maneuver better on ice, it doesn't mean they can stop quickly. Just leave plenty of distance between you and other cars. A good rule of thumb is that if you pass the same landmark as the car in front of you within 3 seconds, you are following too closely.

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