Snow hinders commute

Snowfall throughout the night and early morning made for a messy commute Wednesday, leading to more than 60 crashes and slide-offs before 8 a.m.

The Utah Highway Patrol reported 39 property-damage crashes, nine injury crashes and 16 slide-offs in Salt Lake County before snow began letting up, said UHP Sgt. Wade Breur.

By the end of the morning, things were slower, Breur reported, with 13 property-damage crashes, two injury accidents and five slide-offs.

Breur attributed the late-morning drop to higher temperatures and fewer slick roads. But black ice is still expected on Utah highways, he said. And overpasses may remain icy since cold air passes underneath them.

In Utah County, there were about 30 crashes, and in Weber County, which had light snow since late morning, there were 19 crashes between 6 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Davis County reported 18.

Breur said drivers can reduce the number of crashes on highways by increasing their following distance and driving appropriately for conditions.