Freezing rain wreaking havoc on roads

MAT-SU— Freezing rain showed up later than forecasted, turning dry roads into ice just as elementary students were at bus stops and after older students had arrived at school. Multiple auto accidents began occurring around 8:30 am. At least three separate school buses were in accidents. A semi tractor trailer is in the ditch at mile 55 of the Parks Highway. Borough Public Works is out in force sanding and chipping dangerous roads. A winter weather advisory is in effect for freezing rain through the afternoon, with up to six inches of snow expected tonight. 

A school bus accident at Edlund Road and Lavender Lane in the Fairview Loop area sent two students and the bus driver to the hospital for evaluation and later another two students. The other 10 kids are ok.  

A bus with driver only slid into the ditch at Foothills Drive and Knik Goose Bay Road. No injuries, but the bus driver was shaken up, reports Casey Cook MAT-SU Borough Emergency Manager.

An earlier accident of a bus in the Settlers Bay neighborhood reportedly slid due to another driver trying to pass.  

MASCOT cancelled its regular bus service. The Palmer and Wasilla pools are closed due to dangerous conditions.

Borough Public Works Director Terry Dolan says crews are out serrating ice, sanding and chipping, but roads are dangerous. Stay put if you can. The Borough road hotline is ringing incessantly. Here's the number: 745-9826

The weather forecast has issued a winter weather advisory in effect until 5 am Saturday.

For more information call Public Affairs Director Patty Sullivan at 355-0103 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN ANCHORAGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW AND FREEZING RAIN...WHICH IS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM AKST SATURDAY. * SNOW...4 TO 7 INCHES. * ICE ACCUMULATION...UP TO TWO TENTHS OF AN INCH. * TIMING...LIGHT FREEZING RAIN WILL CONTINUE INTO THIS AFTERNOON. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST LATER TODAY...WITH FREEZING RAIN TRANSITIONING TO ALL SNOW DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. SNOW MAY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES THIS EVENING... AND BEGIN TO TAPER OFF EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. * IMPACTS...PERIODS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SNOWFALL CAN REDUCE VISIBILITIES. FREEZING RAIN CAN CAUSE ROADS AND OTHER EXPOSED SURFACES TO BECOME VERY SLICK. TRAVEL MAY BE DIFFICULT.