‘Highways are terrible right now’ as snow turns roads hazardous in Kansas City area
Update: The Star is tracking weather-related school closings and delays in the Kansas City area. An updated list can be found here. The latest forecast can be found here.
Kansas City-area residents were being urged to stay home after a light snow turned roads hazardous across the metro Sunday morning.
The Lenexa Police Department said on Twitter that officers were working “lots of crashes” Sunday morning, mostly on the highways including Interstates 35, 435, and Kansas 10.
“Stay in if you can,” Lenexa police said. “According to one officer, ‘the highways are terrible right now.’”
A winter storm warning has been issued for much of eastern Kansas and western Missouri, according to the National Weather Service. Roads will likely be covered with snow by noon. The Kansas City area is expected to see between 4 and 6 inches of snow. Other areas could see as much as 5 to 7 inches.
That could make conditions challenging for fans headed to Arrowhead Stadium for the noon football game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos.
The Kansas City Fire Department said it responded to more than 40 traffic collisions between 7 and 10 a.m. It urged drivers to slow down.
The Missouri Highway Patrol said troopers in the Kansas City region were working several different crashes in Bates, Cass, Jackson, Johnson, Lafayette & Henry counties.
“The severity ranges from slide offs to injured people,” the highway patrol said. “PLEASE STAY HOME! If travel is required, TAKE YOUR TIME & BE VERY CAREFUL!”
That plea came out shortly after the highway patrol was working a multiple-vehicle crash on Missouri 7 highway between U.S. 50 and Langsford Road near Lake Lotawana in Jackson County. Traffic was being rerouted and drivers were urged to avoid area.
The Kansas metro officers for the Kansas Department of Transportation said a crash at eastbound Interstate 435 and Lackman Road had traffic at a standstill.
“Southern loop of I-435 headed east is getting hammered right now,” the transportation department said. “If you’re headed to Arrowhead, take alt rout if you can.”
Meanwhile the Kansas City district of the Missouri Department of Transportation said: “Today is the perfect day to stay home and relax. If you absolutely have to get out, plz be careful and drive according to the conditions. In other words, slow down.”
Because of the weather conditions, the Overland Park Police Department requested drivers involved in non-injury crashes to walk in their crash reports at a later date.
Drivers should exchange information, including drivers license numbers, insurance information, license plate numbers and names of everyone involved, including passengers and witnesses.
Police were continuing to respond to injury crashes, crashes where vehicles are not driveable and where substance abuse is suspected.
Lenexa police also requested drivers to walk-in their crash reports.
Kansas City said its crews were out plowing arterial routes and will continue plowing overnight. Meanwhile, residential crews will be clear snow in neighborhoods from noon until evening. They will return to the neighborhood routes Monday morning.
This story was originally published December 15, 2019 at 10:20 AM.
