Motorists caught out by black ice as snow thaws

Jan 14 2010 by Kerry Wood, The Journal

MOTORISTS are being caught out by black ice as snow thaws.

Blocked roads were clearing, rubbish collections were restarting and it seemed that the snow was disappearing.

But yesterday as parents got on with the school run and commuters travelled to work, many were caught out as overnight rain froze creating black ice on many side roads and footpaths.

Among the incidents yesterday was a bus which skidded into the end of a house after sliding on black ice in County Durham.

The crash sparked calls from police in Durham for pedestrians and motorists to take “extreme care” while travelling on potentially slippery side roads made “treacherous” by the cold weather.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: “We had a number of minor collisions as it seems the black ice has caught motorists out. We urge anyone out on the roads and footpaths to take extra care.” Despite a stretch of it having been gritted the A692, the main road from Tyneside to north-west Durham, was closed due to black ice on Busty Bank, near Burnopfield.

Supt Andy Huddleston of Durham Police said there were reports of numerous accidents.

Among them was a bus colliding with a house in High Etherley, Bishop Auckland, and another bus hitting parked cars in Dipton, near Stanley.

A bus skidded on black ice and collided with two parked cars near the Red Lion pub in Dipton, and shortly after a lorry lost control and struck a lamp post.

Bus company Go North East has also reported several local services suffered disruption due to black ice and early morning accidents.