Slippery Roads Cause Dozens of Accidents on North Shore: Police

NORTH SHORE, MA – There were more than 30 accidents in Salem between 6:30 and 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning, according to Salem Police Captain Conrad Prosniewski. In Peabody, roughly 20 accidents had occurred since 5 a.m.

"A lot of them were single car accidents where vehicles slid off and hit something else," said Prosniewski. He said the Salem DPW was out sanding, but the accidents were all over the city.

Peabody Police Detective Michael Crane said the early morning icy conditions led to about 20 accidents in Peabody since 5 a.m.

Swampscott Police Sgt. Tim Cassidy said in an email that there were five minor car accidents in Swampscott on Wednesday morning, and two people were taken to the hospital after they fell on the ice.

In Beverly, Police Spokesman Michael Boccuzzi said officers responded to eight car accidents between 10:52 a.m. Tuesday and around 11 a.m. Wednesday. There were two reported car accidents on Wednesday, a four-car accident at 8:18 a.m. near Rantoul and Pleasant streets, and an 8:23 a.m. accident at Herrick and Heather streets.

Related: Massachusetts Traffic: 55-Car Pileup, Dozens of Crashes Gnarls Commute

The National Weather Service had issued a winter weather advisory Tuesday afternoon for parts of Massachusetts to be in effect until 10 p.m. The advisory included an impact of hazardous travel conditions due to snow and sleet covered roads, and possible gusts up to 40 mph.

Snow Tuesday morning turned to rain and sleet in the afternoon, and rain at night. On Wednesday the rain froze, turning the roads to ice.

Marblehead Police reported a few accidents in town in a Facebook post.

Crane said on Tuesday that there were a few accidents caused by cars slipping on the road, but nothing serious had occurred before the afternoon.

According to the National Weather Service's forecast, the total amount of snow and sleep accumulation could be between 1 to 3 inches in this area. The forecast called for rain and fog on Tuesday night before 5 a.m. Wednesday.

There's a chance of snow later this week early Thursday morning and late Friday night. This weekend could also see light snow on Saturday afternoon and night.

To read the full winter weather advisory, click here.

Image via Taylor Rapalyea, Patch Staff