Today's blizzard left state and county roads covered in dangerous amounts snow and ice, according to an Indiana State Police report.
Mile-marker 59 on Interstate 69 in Grant County was closed at 10:30 a.m. today after a semi-tractor with two trailers jack-knifed and rolled onto its side blocking both southbound lanes, according to reports.
As of 4 p.m. today there were 17 slide-offs, 10 property-damage accidents and four minor personal-injury accidents on I-69 in Delaware, Grant, Blackford, Jay and Randolph counties, according to reports. Most of the accidents were in Delaware and Grant counties.
Extra troopers were called in from days off and have worked past required shifts to help motorists, investigate traffic accidents and answer emergency phone calls, according to reports.
A state of emergency was declared for unincorporated Delaware County, but not Muncie, according to Delaware County Emergency Management reports.
"I think it would have to be where I felt like human life was being compromised," Mayor Dan Canan said. "[However] I would urge people to not be outside."
If a state of emergency was declared, Muncie police would be required to arrest anybody out on the streets without permission, Canan said.
"The problem with declaring a state of emergency is it makes it difficult for businesses to get employees there," he said. "The only reason to declare one is if there would be a presidential declaration for money to help with cleanup."
Damages from the storm were minimal, Canan said.
"There are no power lines down, there are no big traffic accidents and traffic is not very heavy from what I'm aware of," he said. "I haven't seen anybody out that shouldn't be."
There were few weather-related problems on Ball State University's campus, Director of Public Safety Gene Burton said. There have been a few minor traffic accidents and stuck vehicles, but nothing severe, he said.
"Considering how bad it is, the workload hasn't been overwhelming," Burton said. "Most people did the smart thing and stayed inside."
Muncie police could not be reached for comment.
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