Just heard on the scanner that a civilian, the police officer coming to his/her aid and now the tow truck he called are all stranded at one accident scene. Not sure where it was.

The Alcoa Highway to I-40/75 ramp is apparently iced over and causing problems.

Multiple wrecks in the area...

Buses at KAT transit station downtown having trouble on Church St. viaduct, KPD has called for a salt truck.

Friday, January 25, 6:30 a.m.--KAT is currently on regular routing, with the following exceptions: Farragut Express not running, Rt. 34 not running, Rt. 11 and 90 will not enter West Town Mall; make transfers at West View Towers, Rt. 20 will detour around Tillery Rd.

Drive from out Alcoa Hwy to UT was not bad. Had to stop leaving the neighborhood until the windshield was warm enough to melt the rain started freezing on it. Thin wet crusty stuff on Buck Karnes Bridge. Almost no traffic. Didn't see any accidents

UT open now delayed until noon.

J

City of Knoxville and Knox Co. just announced their offices will be closed today.

that is never good...
Looks like Mike Seidel is standing on the corner at Cedar Bluff near the express ramps?

Haha. Standing in the rain?

Thankfully this wasn't as bad as it could have been. Bad enough, though. Cops and other first responders and road crews are busting their butts this AM.

There's another wave coming within the hour. I think it (the rain, not the temp) may be warming up enough that it it will wash some of what's left away.

Another thing that is not good is the abundance of alarm company false alarms that seem to plague emergency services. It's bad enough in 'normal' weather.

WVLT on twitter: THP trooper involved in an accident on Longmire Rd in north Knox Co., at the same location an ambulance has overturned.

Damn. Also a TDOT salt truck overturned on 321.

Everybody should just stay off the roads and let the TDOT and county road crew guys do their jobs, and hopefully let the cops and other first responders enjoy some hot coffee and donuts.

I-40 W at Cedar Bluff, car under semi. KPD responding. Officer reports ice on I-40 at Bridgewater exit.

Wreck on I-40 at Papermill, car into retaining wall.

TDOT salt truck in the ditch on 321 in Walland:

(link...)

Burchett on Twitter:

@timburchett: Roads are bad in south Knox. Stay in folks

@timburchett: "@tnhairdude: @timburchett y'all be safe:" I got 4 tons of truck around me dude I'm good

I40-W at Walker Springs starting to back up due to pickup v. semi at Cedar Bluff...

Cops say the axles of the semi and pickup are tangled up and will have to be cut apart before anything can be moved.

WVLT: THP trooper involved in wreck on Longmire Rd. injured, unconscious.

And... UT closed today.

Thanks for the update J.

@timburchett: We just wrecked. I don't need to go to the bathroom any more.

Photo...

Mayor Burchett was just on the phone with Ch 6. He's been riding in a salt truck that is now in a ditch in S Knoxville.

@wbir: Fire truck crashed on way to accident that injured THP trooper

TEMA declares State of Emergency

UPDATE: Latest wave of freezing rain has knocked out power to 3500+ customers in 37921.

That's Kenny's and my zip, but we're good right now.

My cousin phoned a while ago to say that the outages pertain to the vicinity of Pleasant Ridge Elementary (per some TV broadcast she caught).

We'e still @ 28 here but it appears the warmer rain is starting to melt the ice as I suspected (hoped) it would. Our driveway and sidewalks are almost clear and the street gutters are flowing with water.

I'm trying to push the temp above 32 by the sheer force of will. Could us some helpers, please. :)

WATE says it's 29; our outdoor thermometer says 32.2. It's ususally pretty accurate so I'm wondering if there's a lot of variation out there.

It appears the wind has changed directions and is moving the ice to the southeast.

i just drove asheville highway/magnolia avenue from I-40 to downtown with no problem whatsoever. there were very few vehicles on the roads and many businesses closed, however.

WATE-TV is reporting that Trooper Michael Slagle has died in that wreck on Longmire Road, possibly of a heart attack.