MSHP shares weather response calls

The Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to dozens of weather-related calls starting Tuesday night.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop H, from 8:40 p.m. on March 4 to 8 a.m. March 5, troopers responded to:

34 calls for service

19 stranded motorists

10 Non-injury crashes

2 injury crashes

0 fatalities

The Missouri Department of Transportation said road conditions have kept crews across the region busy responding to crashes and semi rollovers.

“You have to use caution around the semis because they’re big and some of them are carrying 70,000 pounds,” said Greg Bolon, MoDOT Northwest District Traffic Engineer. “But also some of them might have a light load making it a big wind obstacle that can gather a lot of wind and move the back end of the trailer a little.”

This was one of the lighter snowfalls Missouri has seen this year but the wind conditions made an impact on the commute for many drivers.

“The big problem is the wind,” Bolon said. “We’ve had anywhere from 40 to 50 mile-an-hour gusts and each time you get those gusts, especially on plateaus, it just blows snow back across the road. So, if there’s any moisture on the road from what we’ve melted, it just re-sticks to the road. So we’re having to make continual trips back across.”

Drivers are being reminded to slow down and use caution when the weather may be affecting the roads.