Authorities are urging motorists to stay off highways tonight as temperatures drop and refreezing creates dangerous driving conditions across the state.
While warmer temperatures earlier today allowed snow and ice to melt, officials warn that surfaces are expected to refreeze this evening, increasing the risk of crashes and hazardous travel.
A close call occurred early Monday morning on Interstate 40 in Van Buren, where a trooper working a traffic wreck narrowly avoided injury. Officials say the trooper had exited his patrol unit and moved away to check on a motorist when a tractor trailer collided with the patrol vehicle on the icy roadway.
Fortunately, the trooper was not inside the vehicle at the time of the impact.
Law enforcement officials are asking Arkansans to avoid unnecessary travel tonight to protect their own safety and to allow first responders to operate safely while assisting motorists and responding to emergencies.
Drivers who must travel are urged to slow down, increase following distance, remain alert for black ice, and follow all safety advisories as weather conditions continue to change.
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