Emergency crews are responding to many crashes, including a rollover crash and a semi crash on Interstate 90, amid reports of “extremely slick” icy roads in McHenry County Wednesday morning.
The National Weather Service (NWS) said a period of wind-whipped snow was occurring in the Chicagoland area on Wednesday morning.
The winter weather was overlapping part of the morning commute.
The combination of low visibility and partially slush-covered roads may result in hazardous travel conditions, the NWS said.
The NWS said that there was also lingering light rain changing to snow, which motorists should be on alert for a thin coating of snow or ice on untreated pavement as temperatures fall below freezing.
“Use caution walking and slow down and keep a safe following distance when driving on slippery roads,” the weather service said.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office issued an alert warning motorists to be cautious of the icy roads.
Many roads in McHenry County are ice-covered and very slick, the sheriff’s office said.
Sheriff’s officials said people should only travel if necessary and slow down if they do.
Oakwood Hills Police Chief Danny Rains said many roads are covered in ice and “extremely slick.”
Snowplow trucks were deployed throughout the area to salt the roads.
The McHenry County Sheriff’s Office and Harvard Fire Protection District responded around 7:15 a.m. to the area of State Line Road and Weidner Road in unincorporated Harvard after a vehicle rolled over off the road.
The driver was initially reported to be trapped inside the van but was out of the vehicle when emergency crews arrived and did not report injuries.
Deputies at the scene reported extremely icy road conditions.
McHenry County sheriff’s deputies were also responding to many cars that had slid off the roadway throughout the morning.
The Hampshire Fire Protection District, Marengo Fire & Rescue Districts and Illinois State Police responded around 8:10 a.m. to westbound Interstate 90 at the 37 mile marker near Getty Road outside of Marengo for a vehicle crash with injuries.
A car was reported to have struck a semi-tractor-trailer truck and sustained heavy damage.
All lanes were reported to be shut down and traffic was getting by on the left shoulder but has since been reopened.