Lincoln’s first snowfall of the winter leads to ‘an overabundance of accidents’

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – Law enforcement has had their hands full with crashes since the snow started falling across Nebraska on Friday.

The Nebraska State Patrol responded to two deadly crashes Friday afternoon, one of which killed two Lincoln residents.

Sgt. Derek Horalek with the Lancaster County Sheriff’s office said between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Saturday, deputies helped the state patrol and Lincoln Police with over 30 crashes.

He said as we head into winter and see more of this weather, people need to slow down.

“Usually, the first snowfall of the year, the first ice storm of the year is a quick reminder for drivers because we see an overabundance of accidents,” he said. “‘Cause people aren’t used to the slick road conditions, and they’re not thinking about what could happen.”

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Horalek said it’s important to remember that overpasses and bridges tend to freeze up first and can be slicker than other parts of the road.

He also advises you keep your gas tank full and have some supplies to stay warm, in case you happen to slide off the road and get stuck.

“When the roads start getting slick and the snow is falling and the ice is accumulating, slow down, keep your vehicles off cruise control, and also buckle up,” he said.

The City of Lincoln has been treating roads with salt and brine since Saturday morning and will continue overnight.

Officials said they will provide another update on weather operations at 9:30 a.m. Sunday.