How did we survive a snowstorm, but not the overnight freezing rain?
Tuesday’s light rain led to black ice overnight on bridges and overpasses, which hit the morning commuters hard on Wednesday.
Accidents on the interstates and water crossings started popping up around 3:30 a.m.
Virginia State Police say by the time the morning rush hour was over, they had responded to a total of 41 crashes.
At the James River Bridge, 13 cars lost control after hitting ice. It took tow trucks nearly 3 hours to clear the bridge.
On I-64 east near Battlefield Boulevard, a car flipped after it lost traction.
And the Jordan Bridge was entirely shut down around 7:30 a.m. after a car crashed into the back of a gas tanker.
NewsChannel 3 went to VDOT, who said crews were out at 8:00 p.m. Tuesday night to start treating the roads for the morning rush hour, but mother nature just wasn’t on their side.
"With treating, which we were very adamant on getting out there and making sure there was sand and salt out there, there's still always that potential," said VDOT spokesperson Marshall Herman.
The cities themselves also sent crews out to treat the roads. The City of Chesapeake says they used 90 tons of sand and salt on their bridges and overpasses.
Unfortunately, the weather was too much this time around.
