In Akron icy pavement—the extreme cold, prevented salt applied by road crews from melting any of the ice—and blowing snow caused numerous vehicle collisions and dozens of cars to slide into ditches, the result being massive traffic tie-ups which blocked all four expressways, plus several other major roads during the morning and afternoon rush hours. Police had to access the accident sites on the expressways by using motorcycles and entering via the wrong way using exit ramps. In all, 95 traffic accidents were investigated in Akron by police on January 26, although few happened in the evening as few motorists ventured onto the roads.
