What are your thoughts on the first snowfall? Did you have problems getting to class or work today? We would love to hear from you.
Call the newsroom at 765-285-8255 or send your opinions, stories and pictures to news@bsudailynews.com. Also, find us on Twitter at dn_campus. Your comments could make Tuesday's edition of The Ball State Daily News.
The first snow of the season for much of Indiana snarled traffic and delayed schools across the central and southern part of the state on Monday. Crashes left one person dead.
Indiana State Police Sgt. Kim Riley said a series of collisions occurred around 5 a.m. in the southbound lanes of Interstate 65 in Clinton County about 40 miles northwest of Indianapolis. Five vehicles were scattered across the highway from weather-related crashes when a semitrailer went through, striking all five and killing 21-year-old Rafael Hill of Lebanon, who had left his vehicle. No one else was injured.
The highway was closed for three hours. Separate sections of I-65 and I-70 in Indianapolis also were closed at times Monday morning.
State police said the snowy conditions also led to numerous slide-offs and crashes on Interstate 69 in Delaware and Grant counties and about 100 in the Indianapolis area.
Power lines fell on a school bus after it collided with a sport utility vehicle on Indianapolis' northeast side, but no injuries were reported. Police spokesman Sgt. Matt Mount said 14 children were taken off the bus after utility workers cut power to the lines.
Traffic on I-69 in Fort Wayne was down to one lane after a multi-vehicle accident, and police closed part of Hillegas Road because vehicles couldn't make it up an icy hill. Officers were investigating several crashes, including some with minor injuries.
Indiana State Police said westbound I-70 near the Ohio state line was closed after several accidents around 7 a.m., while a semi overturned on I-70 near Indiana 3 slowed traffic.
Many school districts south of Indianapolis were on two-hour delays, and Eastern Greene and Spencer-Owen schools in southern Indiana were closed.
The snow that began around 4 a.m. and lasted about three hours was light — about nine-tenths of an inch in the Indianapolis area, the National Weather Service said — but it froze on roadways, slowing traffic to a crawl.
David Sherman, the city's director of public works, said officials hadn't anticipated that the snow would refreeze after salt was spread, creating an icy surface.
"Some of the streets we would have liked to see in better condition than they were," he said.
The next snow in the Indianapolis area was forecast for Wednesday.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
