The Denton County Sheriff's Office says 15 to 20 cars were involved in a crash Monday morning on slick roads in Corinth. The crash was on FM 2499/Barrel Strap Rd north of Teasley Ln.
FM 2499 was closed several hours as crews cleared damaged cars and police investigated what happened. The Denton County Sheriff's Office says there were no major injuries.
One man filling his gas tank a block south of the crash said he had to drive through a neighborhood to get around the closure. He said he still had to work Monday despite the weather.
"I don't really worry about me, but I do worry about my kids," he said. "I've got three of them out there driving. I'm originally from Tennessee, and we're more used to it up there."
"I'm obviously more cautious, looking for ice and things like that," a woman at the next pump said. "I'm very cautious, anyway, around this area."
Winter Weather Advisories and Winter Storm Warnings stretch from the Red River to the Rio Grande. Some parts of North Texas could receive up to a half inch of ice accumulation. Near the Rio Grande, up to a tenth of an inch of accumulation is possible.
AAA is urging people who can avoid travel to stay off the road.
"Even if you are a great driver and you do everything right, in these types of conditions when we have winter weather, you can still have situations where your vehicle can lose control," says AAA's Daniel Armbruster. "So if you don't have to be out, stay home."
For those who do need to drive, Armbruster says people should leave extra time to prepare their car before leaving. He says people should scrape all ice off windows for a clear field of vision and run the defroster before leaving home.
A complete list of suggestions from AAA to prepare your car:
To optimize visual clarity, clean the outside and inside of your windshield at least once a week.Keep your car’s windshield and rear-window defrosters in good working condition.Keep your windshield wiper blades fresh. Many drivers change them every six months, especially before driving in bad weather.Clear all snow and ice from the vehicle’s windows, roof, hood, trunk lid and any other covered areas. This will reduce risk, because it increases your visibility. Additionally, drivers around you won’t be blinded by snow blowing off your vehicle.Use an ice scraper to remove snow and ice from your windshield and all windows, including side and rear windows. This will improve your ability to see other roadway users that may move into your path of travel.
On the road, he urges people to leave more distance between the car in front of you. In winter weather, AAA recommends trying to steer around an object instead of braking if you are traveling faster than 25 miles an hour.
To maintain control in a skid, AAA says drivers should avoid slamming the brakes because that can cause the car to further lose control. Drivers should continue to look and steer in the direction they want the car to travel.
"It takes everyone doing their part, though," he says. "It's really scary when you're on the highway, and you're doing the right thing, but the guy next to you is going 80 miles an hour. You see that, and it's, honestly, just plain stupid."
When driving, AAA recommends:
Make sure your headlights are on. In fact, it is a good idea to turn on your headlights any time you drive, because you will increase your visibility in any condition. Reduce your speed and leave plenty of room to stop. You should allow at least three times more space than usual between you and the vehicle in front of you.
Brake gently to avoid skidding. Do not use cruise control on any wet, snow-covered or icy roads. Be aware of possible icy roads. Be especially careful on bridges and overpasses, which freeze sooner than roads. And even at temperatures above freezing, if conditions are wet, you might encounter ice in shady areas or on exposed roadways like bridges.
Be careful on infrequently traveled roads, which may not be cleared as often as other roads. AAA also recommends people check their tire tread and pressure before leaving home. Armbruster says the organization is working with Discount Tire to provide recommendations:
Inflate Tires to the Correct Pressure
Check your tires’ air pressure when the tires are cool, because heat (from driving or the ambient temperature) can increase tire pressure readings by several pounds per square inch (psi).
Check the Tire Pressure Often
Tires lose pressure naturally—typically 1–3 psi per month—because a tire’s sidewall is permeable. Low tire pressure results in poor handling and braking, reduced gas mileage, and excessive wear. So be sure to check your car’s tire pressure at least once a month—especially before a long trip.
Check the Tread Depth
A tire’s ability to stop within a safe distance becomes compromised when its tread depth reaches 4/32 inch. An easy way to determine if a tire is worn out is to place an upside-down quarter (not a penny) in a tire tread. If you can see the top of George’s head, it’s time to replace the tire.
Rotate Your Tires Regularly
Ideally, rotate your tires every 5,000 miles—which, coincidentally, is a required service interval for many cars today.Check the Tread Pattern. If you’ve kept your car’s wheels balanced and aligned and its tires rotated and properly inflated, the tread should wear evenly across the width of the tire. Check your tires periodically for uneven wear patterns and replace tires if necessary.
Know the Tire’s Age
As a tire ages, its rubber becomes hard and brittle, losing elasticity and strength. Therefore, the older a tire, the higher the risk for failure. We recommend replacing any tire that’s six years old or older.
Check Your Trunk
An increasing number of new vehicles today come with tire-inflation kits instead of spare tires; some vehicles are equipped with run-flat tires and no spare tire. Check to see which option your vehicle has. If it does have a spare tire, make sure to keep it properly inflated. Small temporary spare tires—a.k.a. donuts—typically have the correct pressure stamped on the side of the tire.
Don’t Overload Your Vehicle
The combination of underinflated tires and an overloaded a vehicle is one of the most dangerous conditions, because the tires can overheat and possibly fail. Check your car’s owner’s manual for your vehicle’s gross vehicle weight rating, which is its maximum operating weight, including the weight of the vehicle, passengers, and cargo (but excluding a trailer).
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