State Police: Nine crashes and 16 motorist assists in four hours

Illinois State Police at Du Quoin handled a total of nine vehicle crashes and 16 motorist assist incidents in the four hours between about 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. during the onset of freezing rain in Southern Illinois on Thursday.

Information officer Christopher Watson said two of the crashes involved injuries, but were not in the Du Quoin area.

"We've been busy," said officer Watson.

He said the activity died down as the afternoon wore on. Drivers slowed down or got off the roads and highways as things got worse.

Du Quoin police indicated they assisted motorists with two locked vehicles.

Freezing rain was worse to the south in Jackson County and to the North in Jefferson county.

At 1:30 p.m. there were four motorists off the road on Rt. 51 south of Elkville. One driver had gone all the down into the ravine near the Big Muddy bridge south of DeSoto. Here is the forecast.

Friday snow: High near 26. North wind 11 to 14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. Chance of precipitation is 80%.

Friday night: Partly cloudy, with a low around 9. North wind 9 to 11 mph.

Saturday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 24. North northeast wind around 10 mph.Saturday Night A chance of snow. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 18. Northeast wind 8 to 10 mph.