Some drivers unprepared for messy morning commute
SLINGER (WITI) -- We saw dozens of accidents in parts of southeast Wisconsin, as the snow came down smack in the middle of the morning commute. You can't say we didn't warn you about the weather, but some drivers still left the house unprepared to deal with Mother Nature.
One of the hardest hit areas was Washington County. Snow plows were out in full force, salting and clearing as well as they could, but people in Slinger faced slush and slick spots. They were all hoping for a smooth commute, but some were not so lucky, their cars ended up on the back of a flatbed truck. Many say they didn't leave home early enough for the conditions.
"It was about 30, 35 miles the whole way. It took us about an hour to get from Highway J down in Walworth county to Highway Q in Waukesha," said Paul Grossmeier of Mukwonago.
Other say they regret not having the right supplies in the car, should they have trouble on the road.
"Unfortunately we just have our jackets and mittens and gloves, but I forgot to put a shovel in this morning in case something does happen," said Jamie Roffers, driving from Green Bay to Chicago.
With it being one of the first snows of the season, we saw a lot of people heading into gas stations, picking up bottles of windshield wiper fluid, making sure they are stocked up for their drive.
Joe Schuster was one of those drivers. He was heading from Cudahy to Juneau, and passed a big accident on I-94, a reminder to take it slow.
"I always give myself plenty of cushion room between me and the driver in front of me, make sure I have enough stopping space," said Schuster.
Plow drivers also are urging people to give them extra room on the roads. They have had some close calls.
"Just a couple of minutes ago, a lady didn`t know what she was doing, and she almost hit me so you just have to watch out. That`s what the blinky lights are for," said private plow driver, Robert Orlebeke.
It was only an inch or two of snow, but it proved to be enough to create a messy commute.