Accumulating snow has ended this afternoon, but wet road surfaces quickly became icy and slick with air temperature lower than 30º F and falling.
There were at least five motor vehicle accidents and some spinouts across town this afternoon, from Manorville to Jamesport.
Riverhead Police shut down portions of some roads due to icy conditions, including Middle Road between Mill and Osborn.
Riverhead Highway Superintendent Mike Zaleski said highway crews are out salt-sanding and salting town roads. They’ve been out treating road surfaces since 2 p.m., he said in a phone interview.
“All the main roads are done already. Everything should be done townwide by dinner,” Zaleski said.
There were accidents reported on Sound Avenue, Middle Road, Line Road, River Road and Youngs Avenue between 2:30 and 3 p.m. today. The crash on Sound Avenue involved an overturned vehicle, and injured one person, according to radio reports. The crash on Line Road involved multiple vehicles and more than one injury. A single-vehicle crash into a utility pole on The Preserve and Youngs Avenue cracked the pole; the driver was not injured.
Riverhead Police Chief Ed Frost urged motorists to slow down and allow extra travel time.
“Be sure to leave extra distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you,” Frost advised.
“Avoid unnecessary travel,” the chief said. “We are handling accidents due to weather conditions. If you don’t need to travel, stay home.”
Temperatures are forecast to be at or below freezing through Thursday, according to the National Weather Service. There is a chance of “light freezing spray” Tuesday morning and Tuesday night, according to the weather service forecast.
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