Va, State Police respond to 7000+ calls during the blizzard of 2016

The good news: The sun & folks staying off the highways helped VDOT crews with treating and clearing roads across the Commonwealth Sunday.
The bad news: Everything that did melt today is going to refreeze overnight and make for very dangerous travel conditions tonight and into Monday morning.

The roads may appear passable but looks can be deceiving and the Virginia State Police are still encouraging residents to avoid unnecessary travel. In many places, snow is piled up several feet high alongside the interstates and highway ramps.

Snow is melting and pooling in travel lanes and will turn into ice overnight. Therefore, VSP advises those who are having to travel overnight or early Monday morning to use extreme caution. Black ice will be a serious threat and drivers are advised to keep their speeds down, buckle up, and remain alert to slick spots on the road.

Since Friday (Jan. 22) through 3 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 24), Virginia State Police responded to a total 7,236 calls for service to include 1,464 traffic crashes and another 2,214 disabled vehicles across the Commonwealth, according to Corrine Geller, VSP spokesman.

The Hampton Roads region experienced the most traffic crashes with state troopers responding to 549 crashes in the Chesapeake Division.

Metro-Richmond and Northern Virginia regions had the most disabled, stuck vehicles. State Police Richmond Division responded to 611 disabled vehicles; VSP Fairfax Division responded to 601 disabled vehicles.

As of 5:15 p.m. Sunday (Jan. 24), Virginia State Police were on the scene of 12 crashes and 15 disabled vehicles.

For the latest in road conditions and road closures, please call 511 or go to http://www.511virginia.org and not 911 or #77.